Political divide vanished as nation united during Marka-e-Haq: Tarar

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th May, 2026) Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Friday said the entire nation stood united alongside the armed forces during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos and “Marka-e-Haq”, adding that Pakistan achieved success on military, diplomatic and narrative fronts through national cohesion, responsible media conduct and the bravery of the armed forces.

Addressing a ceremony organized by the Press Association of Supreme Court on completion of one year of the victory in Marka-e-Haq, the minister said the operation had become a symbol of national unity, resilience and collective national spirit where every segment of society played its role.

He thanked the organizers, including senior journalists and the entire Supreme Court Reporters Association, for inviting him to the ceremony and said his relationship with journalists was not linked to power or the current government tenure, but had evolved during years of interaction in the corridors of courts and politics, particularly during the opposition days.

The minister said the ceremony itself reflected the unity demonstrated by the nation during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, adding that the entire country stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces.

He recalled that during his speech in parliament he had said there was neither opposition nor government when it came to defending the country, as the entire political divide disappeared in the face of external aggression.

“Success only comes when a nation is united,” he remarked.

Tarar referred to iconic images from the conflict, particularly one showing a civilian standing alongside a soldier at the border carrying a rifle and targeting enemy drones, saying such images had become part of history and reflected unprecedented national solidarity.

He said the Pakistani nation achieved distinction on every front, whether narrative, diplomatic or military, due to the blessings of Allah Almighty.

The minister said the downing of Rafale fighter jets by the Pakistan Air Force shattered not only the aircraft but also India’s arrogance and narrative.

He said Pakistan Air Force and the country’s air defence system had earned global recognition and respect for their professional capabilities.

Referring to Pakistan’s military response, Tarar said the enemy, which had been issuing threats and provocations for four days, was forced to kneel and seek a ceasefire within four hours after Pakistan’s response.

He termed it a blessing of Allah Almighty upon Pakistan and its armed forces.

The minister praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his vision and lauded Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his courage, bravery and war strategy.

He said when Fateh missiles were launched, the enemy failed to sustain pressure, while Indian military spokespersons who had earlier made grand claims appeared defeated and demoralized on television shortly afterwards.

“Their faces and words were revealing their defeat,” he added, saying India began pleading for a ceasefire soon after.

Tarar said Pakistan after Marka-e-Haq had emerged as a transformed country with enhanced dignity and global respect.

He said overseas Pakistanis celebrated their national identity with unprecedented pride, sharing videos and reels displaying Pakistani passports on foreheads, dashboards, tables and pockets.

The minister remarked that in the past many dual nationals preferred introducing themselves through their foreign nationality, but after the victory they openly celebrated their Pakistani identity.

“This is the pride and honour of the whole nation,” he said.

He said India had still not recovered from the psychological and diplomatic impact of Pakistan’s response, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi was facing isolation and India’s foreign policy and broader strategy had suffered setbacks.

The minister particularly appreciated the role of Pakistani media professionals, saying the narrative battle could not have been fought without strong coordination between the government, ISPR and media organizations.

He said he and DG ISPR remained in constant contact during the conflict and there was a smooth flow of information throughout.

Tarar said while he represented Pakistan’s position in the international media, Pakistani journalists and media houses played a historic and responsible role domestically.

He said the comparison between Pakistani and Indian media exposed the latter badly before the world.

Referring to false claims aired by Indian media regarding destruction of ports and cities in Pakistan, he described Indian media as a “theatre”, “comedy show” and “dramatisation”, whereas the world acknowledged Pakistani media as responsible and mature.

The minister said despite differing political opinions and ideologies within journalism, everyone united under one identity — Pakistan.

He said the role of Pakistan’s media during the conflict would always be written in golden words as journalists strengthened the country through responsible reporting, vlogs, tweets and digital engagement.

Tarar said when India banned Pakistani YouTube channels, the Pakistani side adopted innovative digital strategies that resulted in Pakistani patriotic songs and military anthems appearing before Indian audiences online.

He said even Indian citizens criticized their own information ministry after Pakistani content started appearing prominently on their digital platforms.

The minister termed it part of Pakistan’s effective narrative response and said Pakistani youth fought the battle through memes, social media campaigns and digital creativity.

“This is a case study of how an entire nation participated in a conflict,” he remarked.

He said Gen Z, social media users, reporters, lawyers, engineers, doctors and every segment of society contributed according to their capacity while the armed forces elevated the nation’s pride through their professional response.

Tarar said despite India spending billions of Dollars on lobbying and slogans like “Shining India”, its international narrative had collapsed and failed to attract global attention after the conflict.

He said Pakistan’s creation on the blessed night of 27th Ramadan reflected divine favour upon the country.

Quoting Allama Iqbal’s famous verse “Fiza-e-Badr Paida Kar…”, the minister said the nation witnessed divine support during the conflict and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos truly proved to be a “steel wall” formed jointly by the armed forces and the people.

He said the operation shattered the myth of India portraying itself as the self-proclaimed “thana daar” of South Asia.

Tarar said the day was one of gratitude to Allah Almighty as well as celebration because Pakistan had not only demonstrated military strength but also emerged as a promoter of peace after victory.

He said very few examples existed in the world where a country, after winning a war, also became a symbol of peace and stability.

The minister said the sacrifices rendered during the creation of Pakistan were bearing fruit today and the spirits of those who laid down their lives for the country would be proud.

He reiterated that Pakistan always desired peace, but peace should never be mistaken for weakness.

“If war is imposed, Pakistan will give a befitting response,” he added.

Tarar held India responsible for promoting terrorism while Pakistan was fighting against it, referring to cases including Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing in Canada, incidents in the UK and US, and the arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

He said India externalized its internal issues while trying to portray the internationally recognized Kashmir dispute as an internal matter.

“A state that cannot differentiate between internal and external realities is destined for defeat,” he remarked.

The minister praised the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Admiral Naveed Ashraf for leading the armed forces with courage and professionalism.

He said the Pakistan Navy remained fully prepared during the conflict and recalled memories of Operation Dwarka while referring to naval readiness.

Tarar appreciated the Press Association of Supreme Court for initiating a tradition of commemorating Marka-e-Haq and said such events symbolized unity, national pride and collective identity beyond political affiliations.

“On this day, we forget political parties, ideologies and differences and stand together as Pakistanis,” he added.

Later, the minister cut a cake along with members of the Press Association of Supreme Court to celebrate the completion of one year of victory in Marka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan- um Marsoos.