NA unanimously lauds ‘befitting response’ to India
• Lower house pays tribute to armed forces for defeating ‘numerically superior enemy’ in May 2025 conflict
• Speaker slams India over ‘attempts to suspend’ water treaty, asserts Pakistan reserves ‘right to respond’
• Achakzai concerned by unrest in KP, Balochistan; demands treatment for Imran within the week
• Fazl calls for immediate measures to curb terrorism, restore peace in KP
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday unanimously approved a resolution hailing the armed forces’ “befitting response” to India’s unprovoked military aggression during last year’s May conflict.
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 dubbed ‘Marka-i-Haq’ (Battle of Truth) by the government.
The resolution moved by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in the lower house paid “rich tributes to the gallant armed forces of Pakistan”. It noted that the armed forces, under the leadership and command of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, “launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos on May 10, 2025, delivering a befitting response to this aggression”.
The resolution said that despite PM Shehbaz’s “sincere and generous offer” to participate in any neutral, transparent, and credible investigation “into what clearly appeared to be an overt false-flag operation, India proceeded to launch an unprovoked airstrike on Pakistan on May 6, 2025, targeting innocent civilians”.
The NA commended the “bravery and operational excellence of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which swiftly established air superiority and shot down multiple Indian aircraft, including the much-hyped and pride of the Indian Air Force ‘Rafale’ jets”.
The resolution highlighted that the armed forces destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters, as well as Brahmos facilities that had “fired missiles in Pakistan”. It added that PAF’s JF-17 Thunder jets “destroyed India’s $1.5 billion most sophisticated S-400 air defence asset”.
The NA also praised the navy for its “strategic preparedness in giving a robust response with remarkable agility to the enemy and also successfully thwarted intrusion attempts to attack Pakistan”.
The resolution honoured the martyrs of the armed forces for laying down their lives in the line of duty and inflicting a “humiliating defeat upon a numerically superior enemy across all domains of warfare, including land, air, sea and cyber”.
It further acknowledged the “valuable contribution and technical expertise of Pakistan’s cyber warfare experts in effectively countering numerous cyber attacks by the notorious Indian hackers”.
“In response to these attacks, a large number of India’s strategic infrastructure was rendered dysfunctional and paralysed,” it added. The NA also acknowledged the “valuable support of the entire nation, including elected representatives from the government and opposition benches”.
The NA warned India “in unequivocal terms that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be misconstrued as weakness”.
“Any misadventure against Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will not be tolerated and Pakistan’s defence forces will hit back with all their might and main,” it affirmed, echoing remarks made by CDF Munir on Sunday during a ceremony held to mark the first anniversary of ‘Marka-i-Haq’.
‘Lost global credibility’
Meanwhile, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that after Marka-i-Haq, India had lost global credibility and that its false narratives against Pakistan had been exposed on an international stage. He stressed that Pakistan remained a peace-loving country, highlighting that its recent mediation efforts in the Gulf demonstrated its commitment to global peace and stability. He further stated that Pakistan would continue to raise its voice in support of the oppressed people of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr Sadiq said that durable peace in South Asia was directly linked to the just resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations and right to self-determination of the people of India-occupied Kashmir. He added that India “must ultimately come to the negotiating table and grant the Kashmiri people their legitimate rights”. He also strongly condemned India’s continued water aggression and its attempts to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling them “unilateral and illegal”. He asserted that Pakistan reserved the right to “respond appropriately at every level”.
Electoral manipulation
In his address, NA Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai criticised the government, alleging electoral manipulation, curbs on parliament, and denial of medical care and meetings to PTI founder Imran Khan. He alleged that the “winning party was turned into a minority” through post-election arrangements. Referring to unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he claimed there was an atmosphere of rebellion in both provinces and alleged that drones were being used there. Mr Achakzai alleged that around 80 people were being killed daily.
He questioned why the PTI founder, whom he described as unwell, had not been shifted to a hospital for treatment. He demanded that the former premier be provided medical care and allowed meetings within a week.
Mr Achakzai also criticised rising inflation, saying the government appeared unconcerned about the hardships faced by the public.
Later, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman submitted a ‘calling attention notice’ and an adjournment motion in the National Assembly over rising insecurity, killings of religious scholars and terrorism incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He demanded immediate and effective measures to curb terrorism and restore peace in KP.
PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, meanwhile, urged the government to address key issues raised by opposition leaders, including foreign policy, inflation, terrorism, and restrictions on meetings and medical treatment for PTI founder Imran Khan.
He also asked the deputy speaker to issue a ruling under Rule 17 so that ministers could respond to the opposition’s points in the next sitting of the house. However, instead of issuing the ruling, the deputy speaker adjourned the National Assembly session until 11am today.
Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026