Pakistanis observed a national Day of Gratitude on Friday, paying tribute to the military and the public for their response to the recent Indian strikes against the country. The day saw a wave of national pride and patriotic fervor, as citizens across Pakistan took part in various commemorative activities.
On Friday morning, a 31-gun salute was held in the federal capital, Islamabad, while 21-gun salutes were carried out in each of the provincial capitals to mark the occasion. After Friday prayers, large crowds gathered for rallies and public events in major cities and towns.
People visited national memorials to pay tribute to the country’s heroes, while educational institutions, government bodies, and civil society organizations organized ceremonies, flag-hoisting events, and speeches highlighting national resilience and unity.
On May 7, India launched missile strikes on several Pakistani cities amid escalating tensions following an attack last month in Indian-administered Kashmir. In response, Pakistan said its armed forces acted swiftly, shooting down six Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafales.
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India did not officially confirm the loss of any jets, but during a media briefing in New Delhi, its chief of the air staff stated that “losses are a part of combat.”
The nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged air, missile, drone, and artillery fire over four days until the United States brokered a ceasefire on May 10.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Army Chief General Asim Munir and senior members of the cabinet, visited the air force base in Kamra on Friday to laud fighter pilots for successfully defending the country.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on Friday that the country has agreed to a “phased de-escalation” with India. It added that military officials from both sides have remained in periodic contact.
At a press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed that the ceasefire between Pakistan and India was made possible with the support of several friendly countries. He emphasized that Pakistan remains fully committed to upholding the ceasefire.
Khan welcomed President Donald Trump’s statement about engaging both nations in efforts to resolve the Kashmir dispute, adding that that Indian rhetoric reveals a “persistent tendency to distort facts, justify aggression, and level baseless accusations” against Pakistan’s nuclear program at a time when the international community is actively working to promote regional peace and stability,