ISLAMABAD – In a grand ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Asif Ali Zardari honoured Pakistan’s armed forces and political leadership for their decisive role in Marka-e-Haq, the operation that Islamabad says ended in a humiliating defeat for India.
The nation’s top brass was decorated with high military honours. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, was awarded the Hilal-e-Jurat for masterminding Pakistan’s war strategy. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, while Chairman Joint Chiefs General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf were honoured with the Nishan-e-Imtiaz. DG ISI Lt Gen Asim Malik was awarded the Sitara-e-Basalat.
Combat bravery awards, including the Tamgha-e-Basalat, went to DGMO Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, and Rear Admiral Shahzad Hamid.
According to ISPR, the President approved further honours for service members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force who displayed “conspicuous courage and supreme sacrifice” in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos. These included 8 Sitara-e-Jurat, 5 Tamgha-e-Jurat, 24 Sitara-e-Basalat, 45 Tamgha-e-Basalat, 146 Imtiazi Asnad, 259 COAS Commendation Cards, and a Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) awarded to eight Pakistan Air Force officers from the GD(P) branch.
On the civilian side, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz was presented to political leaders for countering India on diplomatic, legal, and informational fronts. Deputy PM Ishaq Dar was praised for his global advocacy, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar for his legal defence over the Indus Waters Treaty, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for his decisive leadership.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar was acknowledged for countering disinformation, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for ensuring national stability, and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal for strategic communication support.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was honoured for exposing “India’s deceit” internationally, while political aide Rana Sanaullah was credited for fostering unity.
Special recognition went to Musadik Malik, Tariq Fatemi, Senators Sherry Rehman, Faisal Subzwari, and Bushra Anjum, NA Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Hina Rabbani Khar, and Khurram Dastgir Khan for promoting Pakistan’s narrative abroad.
The event, officials said, reflected the synergy between Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership that was instrumental in securing what they termed a “historic national triumph.”