‘War not an option for nuclear neighbours,’ says military on Marka-e-Haq anniversary

ISLAMABAD: Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Wednesday addressed a press conference marking what the state has termed the one-year anniversary of Marka-i-Haq, saying Pakistan’s armed forces had met the nation’s expectations during last year’s military confrontation with India.

Rear Admiral Shafaat Ali, the deputy chief of naval staff (operations), and Air Vice Marshal Tariq Ghazi, the deputy chief of air staff (projects), were also present alongside the DG ISPR during the briefing.

At the outset of the press conference, Lt Gen Chaudhry said, We welcome you to ISPR on this happy day, as he congratulated the nation on the anniversary of Marka-i-Haq.

According to the details shared during the briefing, the state has described last year’s military conflict with India as Marka-i-Haq, or Battle of Truth. The confrontation began with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and continued until the conclusion of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos. A ceasefire on May 10 brought the military escalation between the two countries to an end.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said the country’s armed forces had risen to the expectations of the public and had defeated what he described as a much larger enemy through multi-domain operations.

During the press conference, the military spokesperson also said, Anyone who thinks there is space for war between two nuclear-armed neighbours is crazy.

Press conference held on anniversary of Marka-i-Haq

The briefing was held as the country commemorated one year since the events officially referred to as Marka-i-Haq. The military’s account presented the anniversary as a moment of national significance linked to the armed forces’ performance during the conflict.

The conflict referenced in the press conference was described as spanning from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, before a ceasefire took effect on May 10. The state has since used the term Marka-i-Haq for that episode.

Lt Gen Chaudhry’s remarks focused on the role of the armed forces during the confrontation and on the broader implications of conflict between Pakistan and India, both of which are nuclear-armed states.

The presence of senior representatives of the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force at the briefing underscored the multi-service nature of the military’s presentation. Rear Admiral Shafaat Ali represented naval operations, while Air Vice Marshal Tariq Ghazi attended in his capacity as deputy chief of air staff (projects).

The press conference was continuing as the details were reported.