Pakistan’s Embassy in Ukraine held a special event in connection with the Defence Day to pay homage to heroes of the Pakistani forces in the capital.

The ceremony started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the singing of the national anthem, reading of President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan and highlighting Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir.

Ambassador Zahid shed light on the heroic role of the Pak Armed forces in the defence of motherland in 1965 war.

“The Pakistani security forces have been serving the nation on all fronts. The armed forces have a history of sacrifices for the sake of national defence.  

“Be it a war or a relief mission, the personnel of the armed forces has always been on the frontline for the sake of the motherland, he said recalling 2005 earthquake and 2011 floods.”

The envoy also praised the armed forces for providing Pakistan Economic Corridor with security cover and said Pakistani forces are ever ready to protect their motherland and respond to any kind of misadventures from the enemy.

“The readiness and resolve of our armed forces were witnessed by the world when our forces effectively responded to the Indian misadventure in February by downing their jet and capturing the pilot. As Pakistan is a peace-loving country and demonstrated the peace-loving gesture by releasing the captured Indian pilot.”

The ambassador recalled Pak forces’ contribution to the peacekeeping missions saying: “They have a history of contributions to the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions – the biggest and most consistent contributors to the missions for decades.  Since 1960, more than 169,000 Pakistani personnel have served with distinction and professionalism in 23 countries and 41 UN missions.

“Pakistan has the singular honour of being appointed on various key positions of UN peacekeeping operations including Special Envoy/Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General, Military Adviser at DPKO, Chief Military Observer and Force and Deputy Force Commander.

Showing solidarity with the people of Kashmir, the Pakistani envoy reiterated Islamabad’s resolve to continue supporting them in their just struggle for the right to self-determination and keeping exposing Indian atrocities against Kashmiris. The issue has been raised thrice in the UN Security Council in a year so that the world body should get it resolved under its resolutions, he said.