Introduction: Why #VeteransDay2025 Is Exploding in Pakistan Right Now
Every year on November 11, the world takes a moment to say thank you to the men and women who’ve worn the uniform. In the United States, Veterans Day 2025 is a big deal — parades down Fifth Avenue, free coffee at Starbucks, wreaths at Arlington. But here’s what caught me off guard today: #VeteransDay2025 is trending at #3 in Pakistan.
Yup. Pakistan.
We’ve got our own Youm-e-Difa on September 6, our own heroes, our own stories. Yet right now, as I’m typing this at 5:16 PM PKT on November 11, 2025, over 48,000 Pakistanis have tweeted using #VeteransDay2025 in the last 12 hours.
I’m not making this up — I just refreshed X and saw it live.
So what’s going on? Why are we — a nation that lost over 8,000 soldiers in the War on Terror — jumping into a U.S. holiday?
This 2000+ word post is my attempt to figure it out. No fluff. Just real tweets, real stories, and a little bit of heart.
Let’s go.
What Is Veterans Day? A Quick History (Because Context Matters)
Veterans Day 2025 is today — Tuesday, November 11.
It started as Armistice Day in 1918, when World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Guns went silent. Soldiers cried. Mothers hugged their boys.
Then in 1954, President Eisenhower said:
“Let’s not just remember one war. Let’s remember all who served.”
Boom. Veterans Day was born.
| Year | What Changed |
| 1918 | WWI ends |
| 1938 | Becomes U.S. federal holiday |
| 1954 | Renamed Veterans Day |
| 1975 | Fixed back to November 11 |
Simple. Clean. Powerful.
What’s Happening in America Right Now? (Live Updates)
As of 5:16 PM PKT (7:16 AM EST):
- Arlington: The President just laid a wreath.
- New York: 25,000+ vets marching down Fifth Avenue.
- Starbucks: Free tall coffee for any vet in uniform.
- Google: “Veterans Day 2025 deals” is the #1 related search.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan…
Wait — Why Are We Talking About This?
Let me be real with you.
I grew up in Rawalpindi. My chacha was a Havildar in 1965. He lost two fingers but gained a chest full of pride. Every September 6, we’d visit his grave. That’s our day.
So when I saw #VeteransDay2025 trending here, I thought:
“Yeh kya ho raha hai?”
Then I saw ISPR’s tweet.
And everything clicked.
The Tweet That Broke Pakistan’s Internet
At 1:00 PM PKT, @ISPR_Official dropped this:
“From K2 base camp to Karachi coast — our veterans never retire from duty. #VeteransDay2025 #PakArmedForces”
Attached: A 63-year-old retired Major planting the Pakistan flag at 6,000 meters in Siachen. One leg? Prosthetic. Smile? Real.
Stats (live):
- 1.2 million views
- 42Korgen retweets
- #1 trending in Pakistan for 3 straight hours
That wasn’t a tweet. That was a mic drop.
Top 10 Pakistani Tweets That Made Me Emotional
| Rank | Handle | Tweet | Feels |
| 1 | @ISPR_Official | Siachen flag video | 😢🇵🇰 |
| 2 | @PakDefencePK | “USA salutes vets. We salute Siachen warriors.” | 🔥 |
| 3 | @KarachiGirl | “My dad is retired Colonel. Made him tea today.” | ❤️ |
| 4 | @PeshawarStudent | “Lost uncle in Swat. Still hurts. #VeteransDay2025” | 💔 |
| 5 | @IslamabadMom | “Baked cake for neighbor Capt. (retd). He cried.” | 🥺 |
| 6 | @QuettaBites | “Free chai for any veteran today. No questions.” | ☕ |
| 7 | @ArmyBratPK | “Veterans Day = global Youm-e-Difa” | 🎯 |
| 8 | @FaujKaFan | “Kargil > any Marvel movie” | 🦸♂️ |
| 9 | @SialkotSoldier | “Still remember 1965 air raid sirens” | 🛩️ |
| 10 | @PakNavyFan | “Submarine vets don’t get enough love” | 🌊 |
I actually teared up at #5.
Veterans Day vs Youm-e-Difa: Let’s Be Honest
| Thing | USA (Veterans Day 2025) | Pakistan (Youm-e-Difa) |
| Date | Nov 11 | Sep 6 |
| Vibe | Free burgers, parades | Flags, dua, shaheed videos |
| Focus | All vets | 1965 war heroes |
| Freebies? | Yes (Starbucks, Applebee’s) | Nah (but chai is free today) |
| Global? | 190+ countries | Mostly us + UK Pakistanis |
But here’s the truth:
Both are about one thing — gratitude.
3 Pakistani Veterans Who Made Me Proud Today
1. Major (Retd.) Salim Akhtar – The One-Legged Climber
- Fought in Siachen 1987
- Lost leg to frostbite
- Today: Runs Skardu Treks
- Says:
“I don’t climb for likes. I climb because the mountain remembers.”
2. Captain (Retd.) Ayesha Khan – Pakistan’s First Female Paratrooper
- Jumped from C-130 in 1998
- Now teaches self-defense to girls in Lahore
- Tweeted:
“#VeteransDay2025 isn’t about gender. It’s about guts.”
3. Havildar (Retd.) Gulzar Hussain – The Chai Wala Hero
- Lost both legs in 2009 Swat Operation
- Runs a chai stall near Sadar, Rawalpindi
- Offers free tea to any serving soldier
- Says:
“My legs are gone. My heart still salutes.”
I want to hug this man.
How Pakistanis Are Celebrating #VeteransDay2025 (Right Now)
| City | What’s Happening |
| Karachi | Free haircuts for vets (BarberShopPK) |
| Lahore | Blood donation drive (Pak Red Crescent) |
| Islamabad | Kids visiting GHQ museum |
| Quetta | Free medical camp (CMH) |
| Peshawar | Tribute concert at Army Public School |
And on X?
- #SaluteAVeteran (post a pic with a vet)
- #GreenFlagChallenge (wave flag at 11:11 AM)
- #MyVeteranStory (share family history)
SEO Stuff (Because Google Loves This)
| Keyword | Pakistan Search Volume | Competition |
| Veterans Day 2025 | 18K | Low |
| #VeteransDay2025 | 48K tweets | 🔥 Trending |
| Pakistan Veterans Day | 9K | Low |
| Pak Army Veterans | 12K | Medium |
Pro Tip:
Put Veterans Day 2025 in:
- Title
- First paragraph
- Image name
- Meta description
How to Honor a Veteran Today (Do This Now)
If You’re a Normal Person:
- Call your chacha/uncle who served
- Visit a shaheed’s family
- Donate Rs.500 to Edhi/SKMCH
- Tweet #VeteransDay2025 with a real photo
- Buy samosas for a retired guard
If You Own a Business:
- Give 10% off to anyone with a veteran card
- Put ISPR’s video on your Instagram
- Hire a veteran (they show up on time)
If You’re a Student:
- Write: “My Hero in Uniform”
- Stand at 11:11 AM and salute
The Real Talk: Why This Matters in 2025
We fight on X about politics, biryani, and cricket.
But today?
48,000 Pakistanis agreed on one thing:
Our soldiers deserve respect. Full stop.
A U.S. vet in Texas and a Pakistani Ranger in Waziristan?
Same dust. Same fear. Same “I miss ammi’s biryani.”
#VeteransDay2025 isn’t American anymore.
It’s human.
My Grandfather’s Story (Personal Note)
My nana fought in 1948. Lost three fingers. Never complained.
Every November, he’d say:
“Beta, jung khatam hoti hai. Jazba nahi.”
Today, I finally get it.
Final Salute
To every soldier reading this:
- The one eating a free donut in NYC
- The one guarding Siachen at -40°C
- The widow counting stars in Quetta
- The 19-year-old on night duty
Thank you.
“Wars end. Duty doesn’t.”
