JEDDAH: The Jeddah-based Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) observed the 50th anniversary of their country’s Defense Day in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to protect Pakistan’s solidarity and integrity in the war with India in 1965.

Community leader Azeez Ahmed paid rich tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives when Indian forces made a sudden and surprise attack along the Lahore border on the night of Sept. 6, 1965.

“Our forces wrote history of bravery and patriotism in fighting the enemy and succeeded in protecting the country at that crucial time,” he said, adding that the entire leadership, whether ruling or opposition, were united along with people in their support for soldiers. “We need to have the same spirit today to overcome internal as well external threats. We should be ready for all sacrifices needed to protect our homeland.”

Pakistan People’s Community leader Shamsuddin Altaf paid tribute to the forces who not only succeeded in fighting the enemy but also did a great job of eliminating terrorists internally. “We hope that soon the country will be safe from them. Our forces have sacrificed thousands of lives. We totally support our forces in accepting the challenge of war. We want to give the message that if India wages another war, it will face more humiliation than the 1965 war.”

Mohammad Akram Agha said that the Pakistani forces displayed exemplary bravery in repelling the Indian attack in 1965. “The blood of martyrs never goes in vain. Allah will protect our country from any evil attack,” he said.

Urdu writer Mohammad Amanatullah urged the Pakistani government to take measures in controlling corruption and maintaining law and order rather than totally depending on the army. “Our army has great mission to protect the border and fight terrorism inside and outside the country,” he said.

Another writer Saeed Ahmed Khan mentioned some historical facts about the sacrifices during the war. “We must unanimously support our army in protecting the country,” he said.

PRC deputy convener Hamid Islam Khan highlighted the role of the Pakistani forces in driving the enemy forces out in 1965. “They were about 10 times bigger than ours, yet we beat them,” he said.

He said that in 1965, people of East Pakistan showed the same level of patriotism and loyalty like those in west Pakistan “but how within 6 years we lost the war in 1971 should be analyzed” and due to that a quarter million patriotic Pakistanis are still languishing in the camps in Bangladesh.

“Pakistan will not be complete without the return of patriotic Pakistanis from Bangladesh and the liberation of Kashmiris,” he said.

Convener Syed Ehsanul Haque said that on Sept. 6, 1965, the Indian Army had full conviction of winning so BBC already announced that Indian Army was celebrating the victory in Lahore Gymkhana. “It was the same conviction when Makkan idolators had full conviction of war against Muslims in the battle of Badr in the early days of Islam but with God’s support the enemies were were defeated. The message is simple — if we adhere to the teachings of Qur’an and Sunnah, Allah’s support will come,” he said.