Pakistan's Defence Day highlights military ties with Korea
Defense Attache Col. Naveed Ahmed Abbassi, front row fifth from right, at the Pakistani Embassy in Seoul, poses with other dignitaries during a reception to mark Pakistan's Defence Day at the Army Club of the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, in September 2019. Pakistan skipped this year's celebration in Korea because of COVID-19 and social distancing measures. / Courtesy of Embassy of Pakistan
By Yi Whan-woo
Pakistan's defense cooperation with Korea dates back to the 1950-53 Korean War when the former assisted the latter with $378,000 and plenty of wheat.
The amount, according to Defense Attache Col. Naveed Ahmed Abbassi at the Pakistani Embassy in Seoul, was the third-biggest financial contribution during the war.
This little-known fact is addressed on Pakistan's Defence Day observed every Sept. 6, which highlights Pakistan accordingly as one of the 63 countries that helped Korea.
Among the 63 countries, 39 including Pakistan provided relief aid. Sixteen other countries including the United States sent combat forces, while another five ― Denmark, India, Italy, Norway and Sweden ― offered medical support. The remaining three ― Bolivia, Brazil and Nicaragua ― declared intent of support, although this did not result in action.
“We hope the relations of the defense wing of Pakistan in Republic of Korea with the Korean armed forces, defense industries and organizations and all other institutions will further grow by leaps and bounds,” Abbassi said last week.
He pointed out Pakistan-Korea defense cooperation has improved after it formally started in the 1980s. They range from training exchanges to participation in joint exercises, seminars and exhibitions, defense industries collaboration and exchange of intelligence.
“We hope that this relationship will further grow with increased and regular interactions between the armed forces and defense institutions of both countries,” Abbassi added.
Pakistan skipped this year's Defence Day celebration in Seoul because of COVID-19.
Defence Day pays tribute to Pakistani soldiers who defended the frontiers of Pakistan during the 1965 war against India.
Defence Day also has been an occasion to address the country's tradition of armed forces, counterterrorism efforts, international peacekeeping operations and the disputed Kashmir region.
The Pakistani military has been “imperiled” with different kinds of conflicts, such as insurgencies and hybrids wars, since its 1947 independence from British India.
Abbassi viewed the Pakistani armed forces “thwarted all these threats and challenges courageously.”
On counterterrorism, more than 80,000 Pakistani military personnel lost their lives over the past 19 years with a financial loss amounting to $130 billion.
Pakistan has been a part of U.N. peacekeeping missions since 1960 when its first contingent was sent to Congo.
Up till now more than 184,000 Pakistani soldiers including 450 women have served as peacekeepers in 26 countries.
Among them, 157 soldiers and 24 officers have died during these missions.
Regarding the dispute with India over the Kashmir region, Abbassi argued that India has been besieging and illegally occupying Jammu and Kashmir and that people there are “living in an open jail and suffering from the worst ever human rights crises.”
“Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence and wants to promote mutual cooperation with the entire world, including our neighbors, on the basis of equality … Toward this end, it will partner with all in this common cause and objective,” Abbassi said.