ISLAMABAD: The Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) held an in-house meeting to commemorate Pakistan Defence Day, bringing together members of the institute to reflect on the day’s historic importance and pay tribute to the martyrs of Pakistan’s armed forces.
The meeting also reviewed the technological transformation of Pakistan’s national defence architecture and highlighted the country’s progress in conventional, nuclear and space domains.
Speaking on the occasion, ISSI Director General Ambassador Moin ul Haque paid glowing tribute to the valiant Armed Forces of Pakistan and the martyrs who rendered ultimate sacrifices for the defence of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said Pakistan’s acquisition of nuclear capability had restored strategic balance in South Asia, making full-spectrum deterrence the foundation of national security. Referring to presentations on the evolution of Pakistan’s air capabilities, indigenisation, nuclear forces and space programme, Ambassador Haque said national defence went beyond geographical frontiers.
He observed that defence was a multi-dimensional undertaking, covering conventional preparedness, adaptation to emerging technologies, national cohesion, economic strength and strategic clarity. He added that it also required personal sacrifices, unity, discipline and hard work across all sections of society, including researchers, diplomats, doctors and teachers, working alongside the Armed Forces to strengthen the nation under Quaid-i-Azam’s enduring motto of Unity, Faith and Discipline.
Earlier, ACDC Director Malik Qasim Mustafa, in his introductory remarks, said Defence Day remained a symbol of national resilience, unity and strategic resolve. He noted that the day served as a reminder that Pakistan’s defence was not solely the responsibility of the armed forces, but a shared national duty.
Presenting on Pakistan’s space programme, ACDC Research Associate Mahzaib Khan said space technology contributed not only to scientific research and national security, but also to socioeconomic development. She said Pakistan’s space programme had gradually moved from upper atmospheric research and sounding rocket launches in the 1960s to communication and remote sensing capabilities. She also highlighted the importance of international cooperation, particularly Pakistan’s partnership with China.
Research Assistant Muhammad Shahzaib Hassan traced the development of the Pakistan Air Force from its decisive role in the 1965 war, where readiness, training and tactical leadership acted as vital force multipliers, to the present-day high-tech and networked combat ecosystem. He said Pakistan’s airpower journey reflected a wider transition from imported platforms to modernisation, indigenisation and network-centric warfare.
Ramsha Ashraf presented an overview of Pakistan’s nuclear force architecture and strategic delivery capabilities. She said Pakistan maintained a credible and diversified nuclear deterrent, based on established land- and air-based legs along with an emerging sea-based leg, under the doctrine of Full Spectrum Deterrence aimed at deterring aggression at tactical and strategic levels.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the ISSI Board of Governors, said Pakistan’s pursuit of strong conventional and nuclear capabilities had successfully protected national sovereignty and prevented major wars.
He said the events of May 2025 had decisively dispelled dangerous illusions of a “new normal” for cross-border strikes, demonstrating that any act of aggression would be met with resolute counteraction. He stressed that peace could only be maintained from a position of strength and strategic equilibrium.
Ambassador Mahmood reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and result-oriented diplomacy. He also appreciated the ACDC and ISSI research team for providing rigorous analysis in support of strategic stability in the region.
