Fireworks and flags fill Islamabad as Pakistan marks 79th independence day
Midnight fireworks lit Islamabad while crowds across Pakistan celebrated the 79th anniversary of independence, waving flags and chanting slogans.
At midnight, fireworks brightened the sky over Islamabad as Pakistan celebrated the 79th anniversary of its independence, with people across the country donning green and white, waving national flags and chanting “Long Live Pakistan.” The festivities included the inauguration of the Yadgar-e-Fatah (Monument of Victory) commemorating the so-called “Battle of Truth” against India last year. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered a televised speech affirming Pakistan's preference for peace while cautioning that it should not be seen as weakness, referencing the four-day conflict with India in May 2025 that followed a gunmen attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
He also condemned India’s suspension of a World Bank-brokered water-sharing agreement for the Indus River system, calling any threat to water supplies a “red line.” Flag-raising ceremonies and additional events were slated for Friday, highlighting both national pride and ongoing regional tensions.
Why it matters
The celebration blends national pride with heightened diplomatic strains over water and recent border clashes with India.
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