FROM the very first day of Pakistan’s emergence on the world map, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah displayed a clear and sober understanding of the strategic realities confronting the newborn state. Independence did not come in a benign environment. It was achieved amid bloodshed, mass migration, and the open hostility of a much larger neighbour that had never reconciled itself to the idea of Pakistan. Quaid-e-Azam was under no illusion about India’s intentions, nor did he underestimate the vulnerabilities of a country that was born with limited resources, divided territories, and an uncertain future. His approach to national defence was therefore not emotional or impulsive; it was rooted in realism, foresight, and an acute sense of responsibility.

Long before independence, Quaid-e-Azam had warned that the demand for Pakistan was not merely a constitutional exercise but a struggle for survival and dignity. After 14 August 1947, when the responsibility of governance fell upon his shoulders, his concerns about India’s aggressive posture became even more pronounced. The unresolved disputes at the time of Partition, particularly over Jammu and Kashmir, the division of military assets, and the economic strangulation attempted through the withholding of Pakistan’s financial share, reinforced his belief that Pakistan could not afford complacency in matters of defence.

As Governor-General, Quaid-e-Azam gave unambiguous directions that the defence of the homeland must be treated as a sacred trust. Despite severe shortages of........

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