ISLAMABAD, 07 September 2021, (TON): Pakistan commemorated the 56th Defence Day on Monday to pay homage to the martyrs of the 1965 war against India.

On September 6, 1965, the people of Pakistan and the country’s armed forces thwarted nefarious designs of the enemy after India attacked across the international border and a full-scale war broke out, which concluded with a ceasefire on September 22.

During the war, 1,617 square miles of territory was occupied by Pakistan as compared to 446 square miles of Pakistan’s open and undefended territory occupied by India.

The Pakistan Army had captured 20 Indian officers, 19 junior Indian commissioned officers and 569 other ranks.

Commemorating the heroes of the war who sacrificed their lives for their motherland and fought the enemy with valour, this year's theme for Defence Day is "Our martyrs our pride, salute to all the relatives belonging to ghazis and shaheeds”.

The day began with a 31-gun salute was in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes in the provincial capitals, reported Radio Pakistan.