ISLAMABAD, 7 — President Gen. Pervez Musharraf used Defense Day celebrations yesterday to assure his countrymen that Pakistan’s armed forces are fully capable of defending the nation.
“Our armed forces are ever-ready to thwart any aggressive design of the enemy,” he said in a clear reference to India, with whom Pakistan has fought three wars since the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947.
Defense Day, held on Sept. 6 each year, commemorates a 17-day-long 1965 war with India over Kashmir. Islamabad claims victory in the conflict, saying its forces foiled an attack by a much larger Indian Army. India says Pakistan started the war in the disputed Himalayan region.
In his message, Musharraf said Pakistan’s armed forces had “thwarted the nefarious designs of the adversary that had dared challenge the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our beloved country” during the conflict.
The statement was issued via Pakistan’s state-run news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan. In recent months Pakistan and India have taken small steps to improve relations, restoring ambassadorial-level contacts and resuming a cross-border bus service which was suspended for 18 months.
Festivities including fighter plane fly-bys and artillery gun salutes were being held throughout Pakistan to mark Defense Day.
The largest celebrations were held at a stadium in Lahore, not far from the Wagah border town where a major battle was fought in the 1965 war.
Thousands were on hand as the military showed off high-tech weapons and displayed Indian weapons and equipment seized during the war. Air force planes flew over the stadium.
Pakistan, France Hold
Anti-Terrorism Talks
Pakistan and France held talks yesterday on boosting cooperation in the international fight against terrorism, officials said.
The talks between the French delegation, headed by their National Security Director Pierre de Bosquet de Florian, and top Pakistani Interior Ministry official Tasneem Noorani centered on improving mutual coordination and assistance in the global anti-terrorism fight, they said.
“We are seeking some technology transfer in the field of security, training of officials and mutual agreements against undesirable elements in each other’s country,” Noorani said ahead of the talks.
Noorani also praised French experts who helped investigate the May 2002 bombing in Karachi which killed 11 French engineers.
“We have received valuable assistance from French during that investigation and benefited from their expertise,” he said.
