The Yadgar-i-Fatah monument, built to honor Pakistans martyrs and remember Marka-i-Haq was opened by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday night on the day before the countrys Independence Day.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf were present. Stood for the national anthem, which was played by a military band.
Foreign diplomats, military attaches, officers, from the three services and other senior officials were also present.
‘Guardian of peace’
The Prime Minister Shehbaz spoke at the ceremony. Congratulated the nation on Independence Day. He said that the Quaid-i-Azam led us to freedom from a bad time. Our elders gave up their lives. Everything they had.
The Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Yadgar-i-Fatah shows how strong and determined we are. It also shows that our armed forces are stronger than the enemy.
The Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated the nation on Marka-i-Haq. He thanked Field Marshal Munir for his leadership during the war. He also thanked Air Chief Marshal Sidhu and Admiral Ashraf.
The Prime Minister Shehbaz said that we won against the enemy because of the Field Marshal Munirs leadership.
The Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the people who designed the monument. He liked the way it looks. That it was finished in just eight months.
The Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the Field Marshal Munir was very interested, in the project that is why it was finished quickly.
This monument is not a bunch of blocks it is a tribute to the martyrs who gave their lives to defend Pakistan. The victory is a win for our army and our people. This is something that makes us proud of Pakistan.
Pakistan wants peace, not war. Just because Pakistan wants peace it does not mean Pakistan is weak.
The premier said that Pakistan is determined to have peace with dignity. He also said that people see Pakistan as a country that brings peace to the region.
He warned that if someone tries to challenge Pakistans sovereignty and defence they will get a response from Pakistan even stronger than what happened in May 2025.
PM Shehbaz said that after losing India stopped following the Indus Waters Treaty on its own.
He said that every drop of water is very important to Pakistan. If India does not do the thing Pakistan will respond directly to India.
Talking about the future of Pakistan PM Shehbaz said that we need to give opportunities to the generation of Pakistan.
We need to use technology to help Pakistans economy grow. We need to develop the skills of our people so Pakistan can become a country with a good life, for everyone.
PM Shehbaz said that we must build a Pakistan where all areas, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir can grow and develop together.
A world without conflict
The premier said that the nation wants to see a world that’s free from all kinds of fighting.
We want to solve all the problems in a way and follow the rules of the United Nations he said.
He talked about how Islamabad’s helping Iran and the United States resolve their issues in the Middle East War.
The Makkah Agreement is a promise of peace for the Middle East and a hope of peace for the world PM Shehbaz said.
It is also a message of peace for the world.
He said that Pakistan will keep supporting the Palestinians who are being treated unfairly and help them get the right to decide their future.
Pakistan wants peace, in Afghanistan. It does not want its land to be used for terrorism from other countries, which is not acceptable.
We need to work for peace and progress he said.
We need to stop hating each other and start loving each other by forgetting our differences PM Shehbaz said.
‘We are not a country to be taken lightly’
Taking the podium, President Zardari said that the nation and its armed forces, under Field Marshal Munir’s dynamic leadership, gave a befitting answer to India during the war last year.
“This is in faith to remember what happened, in how many days it happened, where it happened, and this will go down in history for everyone to remember, whether today or the day after,” he said.
He noted that Pakistan’s military response to Indian aggression demonstrated that “we are not a small country for you to play with”.
“We are there as partners to the world, in the … family of countries,” President Zardari added. “And I think, today, even they understand that Pakistan is a national partner.”
He added that the monument reflects the unity of the nation, the strength of the armed forces and the sacrifices given. The president recalled that his own father was called upon by Quaid-i-Azam to fight in the 1948 Kashmir War.
“Most of Sindh, KP, other places, anybody who could carry an arm were there, and they fought against the Indian Army,” he stated. “By the grace of God, we got our Durand Line, our border line, but still so, a lot needs to be done … by us, the people and the public and definitely, the coming generation of Pakistan.”
President Zardari noted that the premier, the CDF, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi were playing a “most commendable and praiseworthy” role.
“We’ve been successful till now. Life comes and goes … we’ve seen tragedies, we’ve seen successes [and] successfully managed to guide our system through,” he added. “I’m not saying there would not be weaknesses; there always are; but there is no nation in the world that can claim they have no weaknesses.”
Prior to the speeches by the country’s leadership, visuals broadcast on television showed a large contingent of personnel from the military, paramilitary forces and police presenting a guard of honour, accompanied by a military band.
Yadgar-i-Fatah Memorial
The marble monument was finished in eight months. It has five archways. These archways are for the five pillars of Islam and the five pillars of Pakistan. The government of Pakistan the military of Pakistan the media of Pakistan, the people of Pakistan and what Pakistan’s all about.
The archways also mean the three parts of the military of Pakistan. The Army of Pakistan the Air Force of Pakistan and the Navy of Pakistan. They also mean the people who defend Pakistan from cyber attacks and the people who fight in space.
When the monument was opened there was a show with lights and sounds. Pictures were shown on the monument. The government television of Pakistan showed this. One part of the show was about the history of Pakistan and its military up to Marka-i-Haq.
Some important moments from the war in May were also shown on the monument. For example people from villages and Punjab Rangers worked together to shoot at drones from India. The monument showed these moments. The marble monument and its five archways are a deal, for Pakistan and the people of Pakistan.
Following the light show, Pakistan Air Force fighter jets performed a flypast over the monument, deploying flares in the night sky.
The monument marks Pakistan’s victory over India in a brief military conflict last May.
The conflict with India — starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos with a ceasefire between the two countries on May 10 — has been called “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) by the state.
