By Uzma Ehtasham
A year has now passed since Operation Banyan-ul-Marsus, through which Pakistan’s armed forces achieved signal success and honor in the face of Indian military aggression. The occasion was marked yesterday with a powerful tribute, offered in the most stirring terms. In the Punjab Assembly, a resolution moved by the chief whip of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Rana Muhammad Arshad, was adopted unanimously. It paid homage to the country’s military and civilian political leadership on completing a year since the operation’s triumph. The resolution declared, without equivocation, that the house openly acknowledges the exemplary resolve, strategy and sacrifices demonstrated by the state’s institutions, the armed forces and the government of Pakistan in ridding the beloved homeland of the canker of terrorism.
For this, the resolution continued, the entire nation holds its head high among the community of nations. It noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advanced this crucial mission of national security with unwavering commitment, and that under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the armed forces humiliated the enemy on every front. Through Operation Banyan-e-Marsus, the professional competence, courage and valor of Pakistan’s forces were made manifest to the entire world. The role of the country’s civilian and military leadership in the defence of the homeland is worthy of the highest praise. The resolution also commended Operation Ghazab-e-Haq, carried out by the armed forces, noting that under this operation action continues successfully against terrorist elements based in Afghanistan.
This operation is of the utmost importance for Pakistan’s defence and peace, and has sent the enemy a clear message that no compromise will be made on Pakistan’s security and sovereignty. Beyond this, the resolution added, as the nation completes a year of victory and success in the righteous cause against India, the wider community of nations is also paying tremendous tribute to Pakistan and its armed forces, while friendly countries are expressing complete solidarity with Pakistan. Experts on international affairs say that this righteous battle represents global acceptance of the Pakistani position and a triumph of truth, in which Pakistan’s soldiers gave a crushing response to India’s martial frenzy.
According to media reports, China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, among all nations, have offered full and robust support for Pakistan’s principled and truth-based stance, while reliable friend Turkey has reiterated its determination to stand with Pakistan until the last breath. On the same day, tribute was also paid to the hero of this righteous battle, Lieutenant Colonel Shahzeb Rafi, whose unit last year, on the night of 6 and 7 May, thwarted the enemy’s attempt to target civilian populations. It remains an incontrovertible truth that our eternal and cunning enemy, India, has been engaged since the creation of Pakistan in heinous conspiracies against our security, letting no opportunity for aggression pass.
India has imposed four wars upon us, including last year’s aggression. It divided Pakistan through the tragedy of the fall of Dhaka, and with the intention of devastating the security of the remaining Pakistan, it made itself a nuclear power, forcibly annexed Kashmir as an integral part of India, established control over the waters of rivers flowing from there into Pakistan, and left no stone unturned in committing water terrorism against Pakistan. Likewise, through its agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, India has trained terrorists, patronized and funded Taliban extremists and so-called separatists in Balochistan, and mobilized them to commit terrorism inside Pakistan. India’s real and fundamental objective is to remove Pakistan from its path in order to realize its expansionist ambitions.
To this end, it not only sacrifices Pakistan on the altar of terrorism but also, through false flag operations, piles the debris of terrorism upon Pakistan, thereby manufacturing a justification for committing aggression against it. Every Indian government, and notably the current Modi administration, has tried every tactic to isolate Pakistan in the community of nations, but every conspiracy has recoiled upon its own head, and Pakistan has emerged with honor each time. On 26 and 27 February 2019, India again attempted to commit aggression against Pakistan through a false flag operation, but the Pakistan Air Force intercepted its aircraft in mid-air and shot them down, thwarting India’s attempt at aggression.
The culmination of this Indian conspiracy came on 10 May 2025, when India launched missile and drone attacks on various Pakistani cities under cover of darkness. In immediate and crushing response, the armed forces of Pakistan dismantled India’s entire defence system, and the Modi government, forced to its knees, appealed for a ceasefire and took refuge at the feet of the then US president, Donald Trump. To this day, Trump loudly and openly acknowledges this great triumph of Pakistan. Operation Banyan-e-Marsus has therefore become a historic metaphor for Pakistan’s national resolve, defensive preparedness, the foresight of its political leadership and the professional capabilities of its armed forces. This was the moment when Pakistan responded to the enemy’s aggressive ambitions, provocations and attempts to upset the regional balance of power with extraordinary courage, wisdom and discipline.
Today, the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces. The nation knows that in this era of internal and external challenges, unity, discipline and national solidarity are the true sources of strength. Whenever the enemy makes the mistake of believing Pakistan to be weak, it will, as in the past, now face nothing but failure. What is needed today is to rise above political differences and prioritize national security, economic stability and internal peace. The success of Operation Banyan-e-Marsus reminds us that when the nation is united, when the leadership is determined, and when the passion for martyrdom in defence of the homeland courses through the armed forces, no enemy can look askance at Pakistan. Indeed, the defence of Pakistan is in strong hands, and its future is bright.
(The writer is a public health professional, journalist, and possesses expertise in health communication, having keen interest in national and international affairs, can be reached at uzma@metro-morning.com)
