Why Yadgar-e-Fatah is about more than a military victory
Shazia Mehboob
Islamabad: At first glance, Yadgar-e-Fatah may appear to be a monument commemorating Pakistan’s military victory. But the message surrounding its inauguration suggests something broader.
At the ceremony on Thursday night, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used the symbolism of the victory to underline Pakistan’s wider security priorities, from water and sovereignty to deterrence and regional stability.
Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty, Shehbaz Sharif warned that Pakistan’s water interests were a “red line”, making clear that while Islamabad sought peace, any threat to its vital water resources would be treated as a national-security issue and met with a direct response.
“India must come to the right path, otherwise it will be given a direct response,” the prime minister said, while stressing that Pakistan wanted peace and stability in the region.
His remarks offered a glimpse into the broader significance being attached to Yadgar-e-Fatah: it is not being presented simply as a monument to a past battlefield victory, but as a symbol of sovereignty, military preparedness, national unity and Pakistan’s evolving security narrative.
He said the monument symbolised the superiority of the Pakistan Armed Forces and praised Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the armed forces for what he described as the successful defence of the country.
The prime minister also highlighted the monument’s construction, saying it had been completed in just eight months.
According to experts, Pakistan’s newly inaugurated Yadgar-e-Fatah is being presented by the state as a tribute to the armed forces, national unity and the sacrifices made in defence of the country. But its inauguration, accompanied by strong messages on water security, sovereignty, deterrence, regional peace and military preparedness, gives the monument a significance that goes beyond commemorating a military victory over India.
Yadgar-e-Fatah
The victory monument was officially inaugurated in Islamabad at midnight as Pakistan marked Independence Day, with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif jointly unveiling it.
A special light-and-sound presentation showcased important chapters from Pakistan’s history and military journey, including events described by the government as the “Battle of Truth”.
A permanent projection-mapping system, using 120,000-lumen technology, has also been installed at the monument. The system combines light, music and architecture to present historical and military themes on the structure.
The ceremony was attended by senior political and military leadership, including the governors of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Punjab chief minister, federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, senior judges and senior officials of the armed forces.
“Our Field Marshal”
President Asif Ali Zardari described Yadgar-e-Fatah as a manifestation of national unity, the strength of the armed forces and the sacrifices made for the country.
Referring to the conflict with India, he said Pakistan had given a decisive response to what he described as Indian aggression during the “Battle of Truth”, under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Emphasising the military leadership, he added: “Others may have their field marshal, but he is our Field Marshal.”
President Zardari said Pakistan’s victory had enhanced the country’s prestige and warned that any future challenge to its sovereignty would be met with an even stronger response.
A wider security outlook
The inauguration also came amid a broader emphasis on Pakistan’s strategic interests beyond its eastern border.
The prime minister’s warning over water security placed the Indus Waters Treaty within a wider national-security framework. Pakistan’s longstanding dispute with India over water has increasingly become linked to questions of sovereignty, strategic security and regional stability.
Shehbaz Sharif also addressed Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan, calling on the Afghan government to ensure that its territory was not used for terrorism against Pakistan, while reiterating Islamabad’s desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Remembering the May 2025 conflict
Yadgar-e-Fatah commemorates what the Pakistani state describes as its victory during the May 2025 conflict with India.
According to Pakistan’s official narrative, India launched attacks on May 6 and 7 after making what Islamabad described as baseless allegations against Pakistan over an attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan responded militarily.
The conflict continued for more than 80 hours before a ceasefire was announced on May 10 following US diplomatic intervention.
Pakistan says it shot down several Indian aircraft, including Rafale fighter jets, as well as numerous drones during the confrontation. Islamabad subsequently described the outcome as a demonstration of its military capability and as strengthening Pakistan’s position as a regional “net security stabiliser”.
These claims and characterisations form an important part of the official narrative surrounding the monument and the events it commemorates.
From South Asia to the Middle East
The ceremony also connected Pakistan’s national-security narrative with developments in the wider Muslim world.
President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian cause and said Islamabad would continue supporting the struggle for an independent Palestinian state. He also rejected what he referred to as the prospect of “Greater Israel”.
Both the president and prime minister referred to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Zardari described it as an outcome of efforts by Pakistan’s political and military leadership, while Shehbaz Sharif characterised the agreement as a message of peace for the Middle East and the Muslim world.
The prime minister also said Pakistan would continue to support Palestinian rights and reiterated Islamabad’s position on Kashmir, saying the sacrifices of Kashmiris would not be allowed to go in vain.
Shehbaz Sharif further said Pakistan wanted the world to be protected from new conflicts and highlighted Islamabad’s role in facilitating diplomacy between the United States and Iran. He expressed hope for stronger Pakistan-US relations and described the Mecca defence agreement, which includes Türkiye, as a symbol of peace in the Middle East.
This gives the monument another dimension: alongside presenting Pakistan as a country prepared to defend its sovereignty, its leadership is also portraying the country as a potential contributor to regional diplomacy, peace and collective security.
A message beyond the battlefield
At midnight, President Zardari hoisted the national flag at Yadgar-e-Fatah as the national anthem was played.
The ceremony concluded with Field Marshal Asim Munir presenting commemorative shields and replicas of the monument to President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
For the Pakistani state, Yadgar-e-Fatah is therefore more than a physical reminder of the May 2025 conflict. It is a carefully constructed symbol combining victory, sacrifice, military strength, national unity, sovereignty and deterrence.
Its inauguration also reflects how these themes are being incorporated into Pakistan’s contemporary national narrative at a time when Islamabad is simultaneously emphasising peace, regional stability and diplomacy.
The monument consequently raises a broader question about Pakistan’s national vision: Is Yadgar-e-Fatah simply a memorial to a particular military victory, or does it represent a deeper shift in how Pakistan defines its identity, security priorities and place in the region?
Ultimately, what Pakistan chooses to commemorate in stone may say as much about the country it is today, and the country it wants future generations to imagine, as it does about the conflict it was built to remember.
