A Frontier Corps soldier deployed at the Pakistan-Afghanistan Torkham border has reaffirmed his pledge to defend the country, saying Pakistan’s borders are being guarded so that no conspiracy can threaten the homeland and its people.
“We stand awake on the frontier so that no harm can come to this land, so that even the most difficult and rugged routes remain protected from every conspiracy,” the soldier said in a message to the nation on Independence Day.
“Today, on Independence Day, we once again promise our homeland and our people that we are not merely the guardians of this soil, we are the guardians of bright dreams and the future that freedom has made possible. As long as there is breath in our chests, Pakistan is safe. This is our oath, this is our pride, this is our Pakistan. We wish the people of Pakistan a happy Independence Day. Pakistan Zindabad.”
The message from Torkham came as Pakistan celebrated its 79th Independence Day on Friday with patriotic fervor, flag-hoisting ceremonies, national songs, prayers and public gatherings across the country. The national celebrations included a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes at provincial headquarters, while a change-of-guards ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi.
Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the green-and-white colors of the national flag dominated Independence Day celebrations, with ceremonies and patriotic activities held in Peshawar and other major cities as well as the province’s southern and merged districts.
In Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Karak, residents marked the day with flag-hoisting ceremonies, patriotic gatherings and celebrations reflecting both national pride and the region’s close association with the country’s security efforts.
The celebrations also reached the merged districts, including North Waziristan, South Waziristan and other tribal districts, where communities observed Independence Day with national flags, patriotic songs and ceremonies. For many residents of these areas, the occasion carried particular significance as they celebrated Pakistan’s independence alongside the security personnel continuing to guard the country’s most challenging frontier and remote terrain.
At Torkham, meanwhile, Frontier Corps personnel continued performing their duties despite the national holiday, underscoring the security forces’ message that Independence Day celebrations and the defence of the homeland go hand in hand.
The same spirit was visible across Pakistan, from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to smaller towns and villages, as streets, public buildings, markets and homes were decorated with national flags and green-and-white lights. Fireworks and public gatherings added to the festivities in several cities, while citizens renewed their commitment to the country and its future.
For the soldiers stationed along the frontier, however, Independence Day carried an additional responsibility: remaining at their posts while the nation celebrated.
The Torkham soldier’s message captured that sentiment in a simple pledge, that those standing guard at the borders are not only defending territory, but also protecting the hopes, dreams and freedom of generations to come.
