Jean paul Satre once said, “Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you”.
The unforgettable story of September 1965 neither begin at Wagah Border nor with tanks advancing on Lahore. The struggle started in the ever green valleys of Kashmir, where the longing for freedom had been sparking since 1947. The Kashmiri people were restless by the mid 1960s, due to the broken promises of plebiscite, repression, and the Denial of self determination. Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltor in response , intended to support the Kashmiri resistance against Indian occupation. Soon after what unfolded transformed the fate of South Asia.
Indian retaliation to the resistance was severe by escalating hostilities , within Kashmir and later across International border. It was the morning of 6th September 1965, when Indian forces launched a surprise attack on Lahore, of which they were confident that a swift victory was within their grasp. Yet deep in the clouds of panic met a fiery resistance. Citizens and soldiers together stood resolute, they reminded the world that Pakistan’s sovereignty was not up for negotiation. 6th September is unforgettable not merely because of the the military engagements but the collective will of a young nation. Fields were abandoned by farmers to dig trenches. Teachers,students and workers all joined hands and volunteered for civil defence. The war was fought by every household and every household became part of the war effort. Above all timeless legends were carved by the bravery of Pakistan’s armed forces. While holding on till his last breath, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti embraced martyrdom, symbolising the grit that defined this day.
The war ended without any territorial shifts yet it’s significance lay elsewhere. The war proved that despite being militarily smaller ,Pakistan could not he subdued by aggression. September 1965 highlights that nations are defended not by weapons alone , but by unity, resilience and an unbreakable spirit. This conflict revealed a truth thay still resonates; Kashmir dispute remains central to regional peace and security. Operation Gibraltar was given rise out of the Kashmiri struggle for self determination, a struggle that still continues today. Decades have passed , still the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains occupied, facing curfews, human rights violation and demographic engineering. The voices of these freedom fighters are stifled , but their determination echoes the same resolve that sparked the movement in the 1960s.
Defence day or Martyrs day is more than a commemoration of a military past for Pakistan. It gives us the reminder an alarm of an unfinished responsibility. As in 1965 sacrifice was demanded for defending borders, today demands perseverance in defending principles, justice, dignity ans the right of peoples to live free. The solidarity of Pakistan with Kashmir is not only a matter of shared history, sacrifices and many more but also a moral commitment rooted in the same spirit of resistance that defined 6th September. As of today the challenges have evolved, the battle ground now no longer consists of tanks and trenches only but have extended to narratives, diplomacy and global perceptions. As in 1965 the soil was defended with blood of the Martyrs, today’s generation must defend with knowledge, truth, unity and advocacy. National security is vague without social cohesion, clarity of vision and institutional strength.
Defence day thud calls for dual remembrance: honoring the sacrifices of the past while rising to the responsibilities of the present. It pumps Pakistanis to ask difficult question, how the spirit of 1965 can be translated into building resilience against internal divisions? How can standing in unity with Kashmir be transformed into effective global advocacy? And most importantly, In an era where wars are fought as much in the rem of ideas as on battlefields how can sacrifices be redefined? September 1965 lesson is timeless; it ensures when a nation stands united, no force can subdue it. Today Pakistan salutes it Martyrs, it must also renews its pledge of safeguarding sovereignty for strengthening unity and Upholding the rights of Kashmiris who still await the dawn of freedom.
Defence day is not just about looking back praising our heroes and sitting back to back. It is about recognizing that the spirit of sacrifice is as relevant today as it was six decades ago. We find the strength to shape a future where borders are secure , justice is not denied and people are free. We should ask ourselves a question : In our national unity , are we truly carrying forward the spirit of 1965, our commitment to Kashmir and our resolve to face the challenges of today?
The writer is a research intern at the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) and serves as the Member of HEAL Pakistan Organization, a youth-driven effort for humanity, education empowerment, awareness and leadership.
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