Every year on September 6, Pakistan celebrates Defense Day to pay tribute to the sacrifices of soldiers who fought for the country during the 1965 war with India. This year it’s Sunday. As in years past, the day is likely to be marked by gun salutes and a succession of ceremonies in Islamabad and Lahore to honor the armed forces and the civilians who stood alongside them in the conflict.
Key Takeaways
- Nation observes Defense Day on September 6 to mark the 1965 war
- Top leadership of civil-military participates in main ceremony held traditionally at GHQ Rawalpindi
- Lahore holds ceremony at mausoleum of Major Shabbir Sharif at Miani Sahab Cemetery
- Naval Headquarters in Islamabad holds separate wreath-laying ceremony
- Day begins with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad, 21-gun salute in provincial capitals
Defence and Martyrs Day 2026
4 days to go…..remembering the brave men and women who sacrificed their today for our tomorrow.
Salute to the Nations Martyrs
دِفاعِ وطن بقائے وطن#DefenceDay #Pakistan #ISPR pic.twitter.com/L3jhFSusju
— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) September 2, 2026
The Main Ceremony GHQ, Rawalpindi
Every year, the main Defense Day and Martyrs’ Day ceremony is held at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, usually in the evening. Traditionally, the prime minister attends the event as chief guest, along with the Chief of Army Staff and other senior civil and military leaders. The Prime Minister and the Army Chief laid wreaths at the Martyrs’ Memorial on the occasion and addressed the people assembled there.
Earlier in the day, a separate ceremony was held at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad where senior naval officials laid flowers and offered prayers at the Martyrs’ Memorial there. These morning observances set the tone for the day, before the main ceremony in the evening at GHQ.
Lahore Salutes Its Own War Heroes
Lahore holds a special place in the Defense Day celebrations because of its direct involvement in the 1965 war. On the morning of September 6, 1965, Indian forces crossed the border near Lahore in an attempt to push into Pakistani territory; Pakistani soldiers and civilians combined to repulse the advance.
Each year, a ceremony is held at the mausoleum of Major Shabbir Sharif at Miani Sahab Cemetery in Lahore to pay homage to one of the war’s most celebrated heroes. The city also usually hosts a change-of-guard ceremony and other events to commemorate the defense of Lahore, remembered as one of the defining episodes of the 1965 conflict, along with the defense of Sialkot and the Battle of Chawinda.
A Day Established on Recollection
City- and national-level celebrations of Defense Day usually include flag-hoisting ceremonies, military exhibitions, and patriotic programming. The day is observed through visits to memorials and participation in ceremonies, discussions, and cultural programs on national defense.
The day also marks the individual acts of heroism in the 1965 war, most notably Major Raja Aziz Bhatti, who was awarded the country’s highest military award, the Nishan-e-Haider, for his role in defending Lahore, and Squadron Leader M.M. Alam, whose record-setting aerial combat performance became a defining symbol of the war. These stories remain the backbone of the day’s programming in both cities, linking present-day ceremonies to the 1965 events the observance was created to honor.
