A group of retired senior military officers from Pakistan’s Armed Forces have voiced strong support for the Pakistan Army, pledging their readiness to return to the front lines in the event of any aggression from India. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, notable figures including Major General (Retd) Javed Aslam, Major General (Retd) Khalid Jaffery, Brigadier (Retd) Zareen Khan, Brigadier (Retd) Jamal, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Faheem Arshad, and Major (Retd) Waseem expressed unwavering commitment to national defense.

 Addressing the gathering, Maj Gen (Retd) Javed Aslam stated, “We are a force of two million retired servicemen who stand ready to defend our homeland. Our bodies may have aged, but our spirits remain youthful and our resolve stronger than ever.” He added that Pakistan’s territorial integrity would be safeguarded at all costs, warning that any act of aggression from India would receive a “decisive and overwhelming” response. 

Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Faheem Arshad highlighted the Pakistan Air Force’s technological and human resource strengths, claiming that PAF had outperformed the Indian Air Force during the 2019 standoff and has only advanced further since. “Our pilots are among the finest in the world,” he said. “The training they undergo and the spirit they carry set them apart. We do not rely on machines alone—it’s the men behind the machines who make the difference.” 

Speaking on Kashmir, Brigadier (Retd) Zareen Khan delivered an emotionally charged address, calling for the implementation of longstanding UN resolutions. “We’ve waited over 70 years. If the UN continues to ignore us, we may be left with no choice but to act,” he said. Claiming that over 100,000 trained ex-servicemen from Kashmir were ready to mobilize, he urged the government to recognize the urgency of the situation. 

Major General (Retd) Khalid Jaffery accused India of engaging in false flag operations and historical misinformation. He cited past incidents—including the Ganga hijacking, Sikh massacres during U.S. presidential visits, and the Pulwama attack—as examples of what he termed “orchestrated narratives” aimed at vilifying Pakistan. “India’s pattern of blame and denial is well documented,” Jaffery said.

“Our troops have consistently earned respect in international competitions, and if given a target, we will achieve it without fail.” Maj Gen Javed Aslam reinforced the message of readiness, stating that Pakistan’s armed forces were conducting ongoing drills and were “fully prepared” for conflict. He cautioned India against underestimating Pakistan’s capabilities, referencing the downing of Indian aircraft and the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan in 2019.

“We may be outnumbered, but we’re not outmatched,” he said. “If war is forced upon us, we are prepared to respond with full might.” Waseem also emphasized that the desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness. “In Islam, war is a last resort. But if provoked, we will defend our nation with everything we have. Our soldiers are trained, motivated, and spiritually grounded.” 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)