Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif marked Pakistan’s 79th Independence Anniversary with a resolute message emphasizing peace, national unity, and the defense of sovereignty. He cautioned that Pakistan’s desire for peace should never be misconstrued as weakness. Speaking on Thursday night at the inauguration of Yadgar-e-Fatah, or Victory Monument, in Islamabad, he asserted that any future challenge to the country’s sovereignty would be met with even greater force than during the May 2025 “Marka-e-Haq.”
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz jointly inaugurated the monument, which was built to honor Pakistan’s martyrs and commemorate the 2025 conflict. Shehbaz described it as a living symbol of national determination and the professional excellence of Pakistan’s armed forces. He highlighted that the monument was completed within eight months, thanks to the guidance of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the dedication of engineers and laborers.
The ceremony, held shortly before midnight, featured parades by Pakistan’s armed forces, civil armed forces, and personnel representing Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Dignitaries in attendance included Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, alongside ministers, provincial leaders, parliamentarians, and diplomats. Field Marshal Munir delivered the closing remarks.
Independence Day celebrations commenced with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes at provincial headquarters. Flag-hoisting ceremonies and special prayers were observed nationwide. At midnight, fireworks illuminated Islamabad’s skies as crowds, dressed in green and white, took to the streets, waving national flags and chanting “Long Live Pakistan.”
Shehbaz paid tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the generations who sacrificed for independence, particularly remembering the mothers, sisters, and daughters who contributed to the freedom movement.
The prime minister also addressed the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict, a four-day confrontation involving missile and drone exchanges that concluded with a ceasefire. The fighting erupted after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 people. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-backed militants, an allegation Islamabad denies. Both countries continue to dispute the circumstances and interpretation of the conflict.
Water security was another significant theme in Shehbaz’s address. He declared every drop of Pakistan’s water a “red line” following India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. This World Bank-brokered agreement, signed in 1960, has governed the distribution of the Indus river system between Pakistan and India for decades. Pakistan maintains that India cannot unilaterally suspend or terminate the treaty, while India has defended its decision in the aftermath of the 2025 Pahalgam attack.
On regional diplomacy, Shehbaz highlighted the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, signed on August 7. He described the agreement as evidence of Pakistan’s growing strategic strength and a “promise of peace” for the Middle East and the wider Muslim world. The agreement strengthens defense cooperation and stipulates that an armed attack against one member will be treated as an an attack against all three. Pakistani officials have stressed that the pact is defensive and not directed against any country.
Shehbaz also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Kashmiri self-determination and the Palestinian cause. He referred to Pakistan’s mediation role during the US-Iran conflict, urged Afghanistan’s leadership to prevent its territory from being used for terrorism against Pakistan, and thanked China for its longstanding fraternal relationship with Islamabad.
The prime minister also credited US President Donald Trump for his role in helping achieve the Pakistan-India ceasefire in 2025 and said relations between Pakistan and the United States were on an upward trajectory.
President Zardari praised Shehbaz, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for protecting Pakistan’s interests internationally and strengthening cooperation among Muslim countries. He also credited the leadership for helping end the US-Iran conflict and recalled Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s efforts to promote Islamic unity through the historic Islamic conference in Lahore.
On domestic politics, Shehbaz called for national unity and urged Pakistanis to set aside political hostility. He said political disagreement was a democratic right but should not become a source of national division.
Young Pakistanis were another major focus of his address. Shehbaz encouraged the country’s youth to embrace modern sciences, information technology, and artificial intelligence, promising government support for their education, skills, and development.
The Independence Day address ultimately conveyed three central messages: Pakistan wants peace but will defend itself strongly; its sovereignty and water rights cannot be compromised; and national unity alongside economic and technological progress will be essential to the country’s future.
