Today we are celebrating our defence day with full courage, devotion and commitment. All of our men, women, youth, children and old people are celebrating this day with the commitment that they are proud of the Pakistan Army and they will be standing shoulder by shoulder with their army through thick and thin.
The defence day reminds us of the historic achievements of our brave army against the enemy in the war of 1965. The sky had never seen such examples of devotion and bravery as it had seen in the war of 1965 by the soldiers and officers of Pakistan Army. Having a strong belief in Almighty Allah, the Pakistan Army established new records.
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan was very rightly proud of the Pakistan Army and he paid great homage to it on several occasions. Pak Army is lucky that it has received such a great honour and respect by the Founder of Pakistan and it always fulfilled the expectations of the Founder of Pakistan by showing its best abilities on each and every occasion when the nation needed its services.
Today the world has rapidly and drastically changed. Now it has become a global village. The whole world has been transformed into an interdependent village where almost all the nations and countries depend on each other. It is not possible for a nation or country to live in isolation or vacuum. We have to survive in the world by maintaining good relations with the nations of the world. This is the reason why Pakistan joined the world alliance against terrorism and now it has become an important partner of the alliance against terrorism. Pakistan Army is also playing its role with full spirit in this regard.
At present Pakistan is facing a lot of internal and external threats and problems. Pakistan now needs to defend internal frontiers along with its external frontiers against threats like religious, sectarian extremism and terrorism. Apathy towards national interest is emerging as a social disease. Intolerance stands out among the challenges the nation is facing today.
President General Pervez Musharraf has rightly said that religious and sectarian extremism and terrorism are the major problems of Pakistan.
These are also a great hurdle in foreign investment and economic development since they are directly related with the political stability and law and order situation in the country.
The government is doing its utmost efforts for the economic development and its results are also coming out but the news of bomb blast had a negative impact on the whole world. So we have to create an environment of tolerance and shun intolerance and extremism.
Religious extremism and sectarianism is a big issue. This fire can damage or drown Pakistan. We have to resolve it. We have to bring enlightened moderation in our society. We cannot be led by religious fanatics. Extremists are dividing the society into various sections. Their way should be closed.
They should be controlled because such elements have destroyed our Islamic value of tolerance. Tolerance, moderation and adopting the middle path are our Islamic values. We have to pay special attention to directives of Allah and the rights of human being. Extremism should be eliminated.
Enlightened moderation is the need of the day. It is a two-process strategy. One is to be delivered by the Muslim world - reject extremism and go on the path of economic development. The other process has to be delivered by the West - resolve all political disputes with justice and also help us in socio-economic development.
That is the enlightened moderation. If they don't start the process of political disputes resolution, this strategy will not succeed. We must show enlightenment ahead. We must take this world to a more harmonious future. Otherwise our future is going to be bleak.
So therefore, we must improve the condition of the world and contribute to it. As a Muslim we want to go for socio-economic development. We have to reject extremism and go for real progress.
No doubt, Pakistan was made in the name of Islam and 98 percent people is Muslim having firm belief in Almighty Allah. The armed forces of Pakistan are also amongst them, having strong faith in Allah.
They are defending internal and external geographical and spiritual boundaries of the country.
We can succeed only when we stand united. We should be proud of being Muslims and should encourage unity. When we will be united, no one would be able to attack us. We will be able to make our country strong and prosperous.
Survival will be very difficult, if we would be divided into sects and groups. President General Pervez Musharraf has very rightly elaborated this fact in these words in a speech at Students Convention in Islamabad in May 2004.
"This country was created for the Muslims of the subcontinent where the minorities have their own rights and we want to preserve their rights. We want to give them these rights. This is the pride of Muslims to tolerate minority orbit. This is what this nation is all about, we have nowhere to go. This is our land. Our blood is included in this land. We all are due to this country. If it is not, we will be nowhere. This country has given us a lot. If there is some complaint or grievance, it should be with rulers, not with the land".
Pakistan Army is playing its role in internal as well as external frontiers with full courage and wisdom. It had played a significant role in strengthening national institutions by eradicating corruption, nepotism and malpractice's.
It had to interfere in politics in some very crucial situations when there was no other way and when some greedy politicians were looting each and every thing. Now, the country and the nation are on the way to prosperity and democracy has been established in the real terms.
Pakistan Army has a strong professional excellence, morality and strong faith in Almighty Allah. The courage and bravery of our soldiers is recognised throughout the world.
The world needs its services in countries where situations cannot be handled by the armies of other countries. In addition to inherited bravery, our army is now fully equipped with the latest technology and weapons.
None of the world armies can compete with our great army. Actually, the bravery of our army men is due to their strong belief in Almighty Allah and unflinching loyalty with their country and the nation.
They don't care even about their lives for the mission. This is the thing what other armies of the world lack. The majority of our youth desires to join the army and they consider this profession ideal.
Pakistan Army has a tradition of sacrifices and achievements. It cannot be defeated even by the huge army of our enemy. All the times, our army established new records of bravery, commitment and achievements.
It has produced great national heroes like Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, Major Tufail Shaheed, Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Captain Sher Khan Shaheed and Hawaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed who laid down their lives for the nation.
The army that has produced such great and brave heroes, cannot be defeated even by the huge armies of the enemy.
The Pakistani nation and the army are actually two different names of the same thing. Pak Army is amongst the nation and the nation stands with its army through thick and thin.
The nation is proud of its army. The nation and the army are struggling jointly for the prosperity and development of Pakistan. Together we are defending Pakistan.