Islamabad: Pakistan's beleaguered President General Pervez Musharraf urged the nation on Thursday to revive the national spirit that prevailed in 1965 when Pakistanis were the underdogs who successfully fought a war against India.
Musharraf made his comments in a statement issued to commemorate Defence Day, when Pakistan marks the 17-day war with India.
Pakistan says it defeated India in the fighting, claiming its forces foiled an attack by the much-larger Indian army. India, however, says Pakistan initiated the conflict.
Musharraf – who has recently faced his worst political crisis since he seized power in a 1999 coup – asked his countrymen ''to revive in themselves the spirit of 1965, and resolve to make Pakistan a truly dynamic, prosperous and democratic welfare state for the present and future generations.''
''Pakistan today has a strong and robust economy and our defense, based on strong conventional and non-conventional capabilities, remains impregnable against any external threat,'' Musharraf said.
Relations have improved since 2004 when Musharraf started a peace process with India to resolve all disputes through peaceful means.
Meanwhile, Musharraf's term as Pakistan President will expire on November 15 but he will remain in uniform till a new Army chief is appointed to replace him, the General's counsel told the Supreme Court which had sought to know when his dual office period would come to an end.
Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Musharraf's counsel, in a written statement to the court said that the General will remain President till November 15.
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