Pakistan won't join anyone else's war, PM Imran promises nation
The prime minister says Pakistan will rise as a great country
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that Pakistan will not fight anyone else’s war, nor will become part of it.
Addressing main ceremony in connection with the Defense and Martyrs Day at GHQ in Rawalpindi, he promised the nation that Pakistan will not fight anyone else’s war, nor will become part of it, adding that our foreign policy will be in the best interest of the nation.
The prime minister said that he was against Pakistan’s joining war on terror but the way our forces fought against the scourge of terrorism is unparalleled. “After we took part in someone else’s war, the sacrifices our people gave and what our country went through and the way our armed forces fought, the way our security institutions took up the nature of this war. No one else could do this.”
Khan said: “Pakistan was built in the name of Islam but today the nation is going through tough times; but I have no doubt that we will rise as a great country.”
He said that we will rise as a great country when those living in slums, policemen, our farmers who work all day will realize that the education their children get from a government school will enable him to become a Doctor, an engineer or a general.
“We’ll rise as a great country when a laborer goes to the courts and knows that he will get justice there and when the person living in a slum will know the state will take care of him if someone in his family falls sick; his child will have a better future.”
The prime minister went on to say that Pakistan will become a great nation by strengthening of institutions and promoting meritocracy.
“The rising of the Muslim nation under a great leader, our Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a part of history and we have been told to learn from his life and if we want to rise as a nation we have to follow his principles,” he added.
Khan asserted that Pakistan is endowed with immense resources and we are rich with minerals, diverse topography and four seasons and the only need is working honestly to realize the goal of making the country great.
He said that our army is the only functioning institution in the country, for the simple reason that there is no political interference and all things are run on merit.
Rejecting the impressions of civil-military divide, PM Imran Khan said that both are on same page regarding the issues faced by the country, adding that our armed forces are our asset and source of pride.
We will together strengthen our institutions as all our enemies tried to take advantage of the fact that we went into someone else’s war; but I thank the Pakistan army and our intelligence agencies with how they fought this war and defeated terrorism, he added.
PM’s Defence Day message
Earlier, in his message on Defense and Martyrs Day, the premier had said that observance of Defence Day of Pakistan in fact was reiteration of the message to the enemy forces that the entire Pakistani nation along with its armed forces will spare no effort to protect the motherland.
He said that we all collectively will face our problems following the Quaid’s principles of Faith, Unity and Discipline. Lets play our role with diligence and devotion for progress of the country.
Khan said the Defence Day was the best reflection of national unity and solidarity. “This year the Defence Day was quite unique because the Armed Forces of Pakistan, keeping in view their magnificent traditions, have achieved standout achievements in the war against terrorism which provided further stability and continuity to the motherland,” he added.
He said the topic of ‘Hame Pyar Hay Pakistan Say’ represented the spirit and ambition of the entire nation. The Defence Day of Pakistan, he said, was not limited to only 6th September but its real spirit remained alive throughout the year.
The prime minister said that the whole world had witnessed the passion of Pakistani people and its armed forces and especially there was no example of sacrifices the Pakistani children, youth, women and elders had given in the war against terrorism during the last 17 years.
“We present salute and devotion to our Shuhada and Ghazis who performed their duty in defending the motherland.”
Imran Khan, while appreciating the courage and professionalism of Armed Forces of Pakistan in eliminating militancy and terrorism, said no doubt their efforts for national development, strengthening of democracy and world peace were laudable.
He said Pakistan believed in peaceful coexistence and wanted to promote mutual cooperation with all its neighbours and the entire world on equal basis.
PM Imran also stressed upon the world powers to play their role to stop Indian cruelty and aggression in the occupied Kashmir. The resolution of Kashmir issue according to the United Nations resolutions was indispensable.
He paid tributes to all the martyrs, Ghazis, their families and relatives, and assured them that the government would leave no stone unturned in their welfare. The government, he added, would continue absolute struggle in the war against terrorism till its logical end.
