Agha Safeer Hussain Kazmi
The background of Operation Swift Retort is linked to the intense tensions that arose in South Asia in February 2019. On 14 February 2019, a suicide attack occurred in the Pulwama district of Indian-occupied Kashmir, which India immediately blamed on Pakistan. This politics of allegations—made without evidence or international investigation—pushed the region to the brink of war. In this charged atmosphere, on the night of 26 February 2019, India violated Pakistan’s airspace and claimed to have carried out a so-called “surgical strike” near Balakot. Subsequent ground realities made it clear that instead of striking any military target, Indian aircraft merely dropped their payloads in forested areas and returned. The purpose of this action was to reap domestic political gains and increase pressure in the region.
Pakistan responded to this aggression with restraint and responsibility; however, to defend its sovereignty, it carried out a limited, measured, and clearly defined military action on 27 February 2019. This action came to be known as Operation Swift Retort, in which the Pakistan Air Force, through professional strategy, conducted operations close to Indian military targets, sending a clear message that Pakistan possesses full defensive capability but does not seek to escalate war. During this engagement, an Indian aircraft was shot down and its pilot captured, causing India’s own narrative to collapse under its weight. The subsequent release of the pilot further reinforced Pakistan’s peaceful and responsible conduct at the global level. This was not merely a military response; it emerged as a practical example of defending sovereignty, maintaining balance during military escalation, and presenting Pakistan as a responsible state before the international community. The events of 27 February 2019 proved that against arrogance of power, only organized strategy, professional preparedness, and institutional capacity are decisive factors. A seven-year analysis also makes it clear that India’s theatrics and war hysteria cannot deliver lasting superiority, and that any narrative spread against Pakistan is neutralized by the state’s wisdom and strength.
If one looks back over the seven years since Operation Swift Retort, the foremost reality that emerges is that against arrogance of power and emotional war frenzy, organized strategy, professional preparedness, and responsible state behavior are the true decisive elements. Over these seven years, regional politics and the military balance have shown clearly that one-sided narrative-building, politics of accusations, and limited displays of force can neither change reality nor ensure lasting dominance. Pakistan’s demonstration of full capability with restraint established a durable deterrence, with a simple message: aggression will be responded to, but war will not be imposed. In this continuity, the lesson India received last May—when it attempted to increase pressure on Pakistan through a hysteria-driven narrative under the pretext of the so-called Pahalgam drama—is another example of the same reality. It showed that stories fabricated for short-term political objectives collapse under their own weight when confronted with state responsibility and ground realities. Thus, the seven-year review shows that Operation Swift Retort was not merely a one-day action but an announcement of a strategic direction in which the desire for peace, preparedness for defense, and preservation of national dignity are interlinked. With the passage of time, this direction has become clearer, repeatedly conveying to the region that not war hysteria but prudent balance is the guarantee of the future.
As a nation, our responsibility is not merely to express satisfaction over successes achieved against enemy conspiracies and deceit, but also to forcefully highlight the importance and effectiveness of our defense institutions that stand behind these successes. It is now evident as daylight that from intelligence to practical action, Pakistan possesses highly organized, professional armed forces imbued with faith and commitment.
The training of Pakistan’s armed forces is not limited to military skills alone; rather, they are prepared under a clear mission—“Faith, piety, and jihad in the way of Allah.” This is why these forces not only protect the borders but also offer sacrifices for the preservation of national dignity, ideological foundations, and state sovereignty. Their professional preparedness, discipline, and timely decisions are proof that Pakistan’s defense is in strong hands. As a state, our fundamental responsibility is to unify national thinking, vision, and ideology. The narrative we have formed—or are forming—must not be confined to governmental, political, or temporary requirements; rather, it must be aligned with the impacts and fruits of the martyrs’ sacrifices. The blood of the martyrs is not merely a memory of the past; it is a trust that determines the direction of the future.
When the national narrative is connected to the sacrifices of the martyrs, it ceases to be mere words and becomes a living consciousness—one that gives the nation courage, strengthens trust in institutions, and sends a clear message to the enemy that this nation does not scatter in the face of trials. This intellectual harmony carries forward the spirit of Operation Swift Retort and further strengthens Pakistan on ideological, defensive, and moral fronts. Azad Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein. This region is extremely sensitive geographically, defensively, and ideologically, yet for years its governmental and administrative machinery remained largely confined to electoral politics. During this time, defense of the homeland—whether internal law and order or external aggression—required an apolitical approach, but practical measures remained limited and temporary. As a result, the people of Azad Kashmir who made sacrifices for national defense and freedom increasingly felt concern and disappointment.
In such circumstances, through the platform of the Shuhada-e-Watan Media Cell, efforts were made to link the sacrifices of Azad Kashmir’s martyrs with national consciousness, ideological training, and practical activities. Educational institutions, squares, and other installations were named after martyrs so that the new generation could be introduced to the soldierly role in homeland defense. Over time, the effects of this campaign were encouraging, and many educational institutions in Azad Kashmir were named after martyrs. However, beyond limiting efforts to names and memorials, it is essential to make activities continuous and systematic. For example, medical camps, training workshops, social welfare programs, and visits by Army Recruitment and Selection Center teams should be held at schools and colleges named after martyrs. At the same time, coordinated linkage among the education department, civil administration, and armed forces should be established so that regular activities are conducted annually on days of national importance.
The purpose of this campaign was not merely to install nameplates but to strengthen jurisprudential and ideological thinking, introduce the new generation to the soldierly role in homeland defense, and instill values of selflessness, sacrifice, and responsibility among youth. Over time, the results have been encouraging, and today a considerable number of public educational institutions in Azad Kashmir bear the names of martyrs. The effectiveness of educational institutions, the real significance of installations named after martyrs, and improvement in public services in Azad Kashmir require a comprehensive strategy, in which the role of the Chief Secretary becomes central.
At all entry points of Azad Kashmir, introductory signboards of martyrs from this region who belonged to the armed forces of Pakistan should be installed. On highways under the National Highway Authority—main roads, link roads, connecting roads, and paved or unpaved routes—wherever a martyr’s shrine or village exists, sideboards should be erected so that the public and travelers are made aware of the martyrs’ sacrifices and the concept of homeland protection. This step would be a practical extension of the long services of the Shuhada-e-Watan Media Cell, creating national consciousness not only in narrative but in tangible reality. The need of the hour is that in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan-ness should not be confined to slogans but should be nurtured at the level of systems, conduct, and action. This is the path that ensures loyalty to the martyrs’ sacrifices, strengthens national unity, and fulfills the conviction that “Kashmir is Pakistan.”
Furthermore, if effective and coordinated linkage is established among the education department, civil administration, and the Pakistan Army, and a clear annual activity plan is devised for days of national importance, the objectives for which educational institutions were named after martyrs can be fulfilled. The question is whether we want to keep the martyrs’ sacrifices as mere symbols, or transform them into a living national thought. If the answer is the latter, then Pakistan-ness in Azad Kashmir must be taken beyond slogans to the level of action. This is the path that strengthens nations and grants them honor in history.
Our objective should not be merely to observe important days symbolically; rather, we must continuously review and strive to perform every act of national service in the best possible manner. The long-term efforts of the Shuhada-e-Watan Media Cell against enemy propaganda demonstrate that a national narrative does not remain confined to slogans when it is harmonized with action. However, through practical measures, continuity, and institutional coordination, it can be made even more effective. While acknowledgment of martyrs’ sacrifices has occurred partially—such as naming some educational institutions after martyrs and providing official patronage to campaigns—complete and sustained recognition remains a challenge due to the lack of an integrated system and policy, which limits activities. Yet our national dignity exists because of sacrifices of all kinds, and sacrifices of life carry extraordinary significance and impact.
Azad Kashmir holds the status of Pakistan’s jugular vein. It is not only an indispensable unit of Pakistan geographically, ideologically, and defensively, but is also practically under Pakistan’s administrative control. Despite this, a bitter truth remains: overall, Pakistan’s governmental and administrative machinery in Azad Kashmir appears largely centered on electoral politics. Goal-setting, resource allocation, and security measures often remain confined to temporary political needs, with little evidence of a comprehensive, long-term vision linked to national security. This mindset contradicts the reality that homeland defense is never dependent on politics or electoral calendars. Whether dealing with internal law and order or challenges arising from external aggression, state defense always demands apolitical, sustained attention and institutional seriousness. Given Azad Kashmir’s sensitivity along the Line of Control, administrative weakness or intellectual negligence here produces not merely local but national-level consequences.
It must be clear that defense responsibility is not limited to taking up arms. It is a multidimensional concept that includes public awareness, preparedness of civil administration, emergency response systems, national education in institutions, and consistency of the state narrative. If governmental action in Azad Kashmir continues to revolve solely around elections while defensive and ideological requirements are neglected, this vacuum can provide the enemy opportunities on intellectual and psychological fronts. Therefore, Islamabad must understand that Azad Kashmir should be viewed not merely as a political arena but as a strategic front line. State presence here should mean not only governance but confidence-building, institutional stability, and continuous preparedness in line with national security needs. Defense of the homeland is not the agenda of a single government, party, or term; it is a national duty that must remain paramount at all times and at every level.
For a long time, the slogan “Kashmir will become Pakistan” echoed in Azad Kashmir. Some highlighted the region’s importance by calling it Pakistan’s jugular vein, expressing their awareness and sentiment. Yet the bitter reality is that no strong practical model emerged from these slogans and narratives. What occurred mostly was politics of Pakistan-ness in Azad Kashmir, rather than a serious effort to shape the spirit of Pakistan-ness into a living, organized, and sustainable national thought. Consequently, those segments of Azad Kashmir that played a direct role in homeland defense, protection of freedom, and state security—and made sacrifices—gradually fell into concern and disappointment. They felt that while verbal acknowledgment of their sacrifices existed, its impact at the level of national consciousness and institutions was lacking.
In these circumstances, through an organized campaign, the platform of the Shuhada-e-Watan Media Cell effectively promoted dignified recognition of the sacrifices of Azad Kashmir’s martyrs who belonged to Pakistan’s armed forces—particularly by naming public educational institutions and, more broadly, other installations, squares, and roads after martyrs. This year, Pakistan’s defenders reaffirmed with clear and confident conviction that “Kashmir is Pakistan.” This conviction demands that the state and institutions fulfill their responsibilities with full seriousness and promote positive national activities in Azad Kashmir on a priority basis. This conviction will be complete only when ideological and intellectual roles are prominent in Azad Kashmir, rather than patriotism being confined to statements, temporary media campaigns, or transactional services.
Another crucial aspect must be kept in mind: the services of defense institutions and their impact are not limited to the soldier standing at the front line or the weapons on the battlefield. In winning any battle or war, leadership’s strategy, foresight, and prudence play a fundamental role. Only thereafter do soldiers, officers, weapons, and resources become decisive in their respective places. Ignoring this order renders the entire concept of defense incomplete. Unfortunately, our narrative often confines homeland defense to the front line where the soldier stands, obscuring the leadership’s background role in planning, risk assessment, timely decision-making, and determining overall direction. This gap is exploited by negative elements as a propaganda tool, attempting to weaken institutions by creating distinctions between soldiers and leadership. In reality, if the soldier stands at the front, he is merely the finger on the trigger; the mind that moves that finger is the army’s command and control system—where information is analyzed, intelligence assessed, risks prioritized, and operational decisions made. The soldier’s bravery and sacrifice are vital, but without the leadership, systems, and institutional coordination behind them, such action would not be possible.
Therefore, it is our collective responsibility that while shaping the defense narrative, we focus on the institution rather than individuals. As a nation and as state thinking, our effort should be to strengthen the overall role of Pakistan’s armed forces—neither isolating a single soldier nor elevating a single commander as a lone hero. When the institution is strong, leadership, systems, soldiers, and strategy all remain effective in their places. This balanced understanding not only counters negative propaganda but also stabilizes national confidence. Defense of the homeland is not the name of a single face or a single front; it is an integrated, organized, and multidimensional institutional process. Understanding, accepting, and strengthening this process is the true guarantee of national security.
Defense of the homeland is an extremely serious and responsible duty; symbolic methods of honoring it are not sufficient. On every important day, governments often recount their achievements, but mere statements cannot suffice as a model of national service—especially when our defenders are not partial or temporary actors. Their training and soldierly role are the result of hard work, dedication, and passion, after which they stand firm even in the face of death for the sake of the nation and its people, attaining martyrdom. Therefore, against the enemy’s serious campaigns, partial and temporary efforts cannot produce lasting effects. The need is that even after Operation Swift Retort of 27 February, our minds remain more active against enemy propaganda, and our guiding principle should be “Love for the homeland is faith.” Homeland defense and all matters linked to it demand a “soldierly role”—and nothing else. God willing, the sacrifices will not go in vain; Pakistan will always endure with full strength, sovereignty, and dignity.