ISLAMABAD: Warning that any misadventure will evoke a telling response, President Dr Arif Alvi has said Pakistan is fully capable of defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“We will defend our independence at all costs,” he said while speaking at a spectacular military parade held as part of Pakistan Day celebrations at Parade Ground near Shakarparian hills here on Thursday.

The president, however, said that Pakistan desired peace, security and development in the whole region and had taken practical steps in pursuit of this. Peaceful coexistence was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, he said, adding that the current situation required the South Asian leadership to reject the politics of hate, prejudice and religious extremism.

“Pakistan wants to move forward with good intent and peace, but our desire for peace should not be construed as our weakness,” he said.

Spectacular military parade held as part of Pakistan Day celebrations

President Alvi said that Pakistan wanted peace and progress not only for itself, but for the entire region. “Unfortunately, the situation in South Asia and the wider region has been poor due to conspiracies, hate, terrorism and bilateral disputes,” he regretted.

He advised the leaders of the region to put an end to politics, built around hate and religious extremism, for a peaceful future.

President Alvi paid tribute to the country’s armed forces, stating that the whole country stood shoulder to shoulder with them in the face of foreign aggression and on national issues. “Our martyrs and our ghazis are our pride,” he said.

About the situation in India-held Kashmir, he said the whole nation stood by their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in this hour of trial. He urged the international community to take notice of the grim situation in the occupied valley. Reiterating Pakistan’s support for the people living in Indian-held Kashmir, he said the country “will not abandon them”.

“Quaid-i-Azam [Mohammad Ali Jinnah] had said Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein. We are raising the issue of Kashmir and will continue to do so,” he said.

The president said Pakistan Day “reiterates the separate identity of the Muslims of sub-continent.”

“Although Pakistan started as a weak state, we have now progressed well and become a strong country self-sufficient in its defence,” he noted.

President Alvi praised the armed forces for their services to the nation, be it on matters of security or in response to natural disasters.

He commended the armed forces for eliminating terrorism from the country and for their efforts in combatting the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Pakistan’s battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, despite its meagre resources, is a lesson for the world,” he said.

President Alvi hailed Pakistan’s friendship with China, saying “China is Pakistan’s true friend and the bilateral relationship between the two countries is strengthening in all spheres, including defence and security”.

“Pakistan is extremely grateful to the government and people of China for their gift of coronavirus vaccines,” he added.

He said Pakistan had sacrificed a lot for peace in Afghanistan and it has always supported such efforts, adding: “The world has acknowledged Pakistan in this regard.”

The president said Pakistan had good relations with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the Gulf states, and called for strengthening the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to fight the rising wave of Islamophobia.

He recalled Islamabad’s efforts in this regard and said: “We will continue to play our role.”

The parade

The military parade in connection with Pakistan Day celebrations had previously been postponed due to “inclement weather”.

President Arif Alvi attended the parade as the chief guest, while Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi were also present.

Prime Minister Imran Khan was unable to attend the ceremony as he is currently in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19.

The ceremony kicked off with fly-past by Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy fighter jets, led by Air Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, which saluted the president.

F-16, JF-17, Mirage, AWACs, P-3C Orion and ATR aircraft participated in the fly-past.

The parade also showcased local cultures of the four provinces as floats from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir were featured during the ceremony.

Contingents of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Special Services Groups, Frontier Corps, Rangers, Islamabad Police, Frontier Constabulary, Airport Security Force and Boys Scouts marched past the dais while saluting the chief guest.

JF-17 and Sherdils performed acrobatic manoeuvres, painting the sky a myriad of colours as an enthralled audience cheered them on.

As a mark of the strong bond between Pakistan and Turkey, a Turkish fighter jet also presented a range of dazzling manoeuvres.

A Turkish military band also surprised the audience by playing national songs.

Air Chief Marshal Sidhu led the formation of PAF fly-past aircraft during Pakistan Day parade.

The grand event featured contingents of the three armed forces and security forces conducting a march past as fighter jets presented aerobatic manoeuvres.

The traditional military parade is the mega event of Pakistan Day celebrations.

Parade was strictly conducted as per health guidelines. Due to coronavirus restrictions, a limited number of spectators were allowed to witness the parade.

The military contingents and all those who were part of the event were kept in a special bio-bubble. There move in and out of the parade ground was restricted.

Face masks were provided to all those who witnessed the parade. Temperature guns were used to check symptoms and hand sanitisers were provided at entry gates.

The ground was specially decorated for the occasion. Digital screens were installed for the first time to show various segments. Turkish solo and military band and paratroopers of Bahrain, Palestine, Iraq, Sri Lanka and Turkey specially participated in the parade.

Commander of Bahrain National Guard General Sheikh Isa bin Khalifa, Commander of UK Strategic Command Sir Patrick Sanders and the chief of defence and commander of Sri Lankan army were the dignitaries who witnessed the parade.

The parade this time presented many new colours. It was not showcase of military might only, but the script started with Pakistan movement and tribute to all those who gave supreme sacrifices for creation of Pakistan.

The white of the flag was particularly remembered and mentioned. The script also paid tribute to those civilians who laid their lives in the war against terrorism, like Itezaz Hasan of Hangu. One nation and one destiny was theme which was visible in various colours of the parade.

One of the highlights was inclusion of police, Rangers, ANF and ASF women officers in lady contingent.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2021