MT Desk: The nation observed Youm-i-Tashakur on Friday across the country to honour the armed forces and the people for the victory in Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos — a part of Marka-i-Haq — against India, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

The military confrontation between India and Pakistan came as the former blamed Islamabad for the Pahalgam attack. On the night of May 6-7, New Delhi launched a series of air strikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Both sides then exchanged missiles, which stretched over the week. It took American intervention for both sides to finally drop their guns.

On Monday, the director general of military operations for both sides held the first round of talks after the ceasefire.The day today began with special prayers in mosques, followed by a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute at provincial capitals, according to Radio Pakistan.

The main ceremony of Youm-i-Tashakur was held at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the chief guest at the ceremony. The chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff committee and the army chief were also present there. In a statement, PM Shehbaz said that the brave and professional armed forces have written a “golden chapter” in military history by giving an effective and forceful response to the enemy and foiling the enemy’s intentions, state media Pakistan Television reported. He added that innocent Pakistani citizens were martyred in this cowardly attack.

“In response to the enemy’s aggression, our falcons struck such effective blows that the enemy’s military bases, weapons depots and air bases were turned into ruins,” the premier continued.

He also praised the leadership of Chief of Army Staff General (COAS) Syed Asim Munir and paid tributes to Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and his falcons as well as the security of the maritime borders of the Pakistan Navy under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf.