Islamabad: Promising to strengthen Pakistan's Defence capabilities despite economic constraints, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shoukat Aziz yesterday (Sep 5, 2004) said their country's Defence forces were ready to thwart any "aggressive design by the enemy".

In his message on the eve of the Defence Day today (Sep 6, 2004) to commemorate the 1965 war against India, Musharraf said the country's "armed forces with the support of the nation are always ready to thwart aggressive designs of the enemy".

Musharraf said the war of 1965 proved that "we were not only sensitive and zealous about our Defence but also displayed a brave conduct in this regard".

Pakistan every year observes September 6 as Defence Day, which was declared as national holiday.

In his message Aziz has said Pakistan is a peace-loving nation and believes in peaceful resolution of issues but at the same time it believes that a strong Defence is a durable guarantee for peace and security.

"Our love and yearn for peace has been acknowledged all over the world. But at the same time, we believe that a strong defence is a durable guarantee for peace and security," he said, adding that "despite constraints we will continue to strengthen our Defence capabilities, and we will continue to modernise Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy".

For this purpose, he said, additional resources will be provided.