ISLAMABAD: For the first time, Indian military officials and diplomats posted in Islamabad attended the Friday’s military parade held in the federal capital to mark the Pakistan Day.
The move comes at a time when tensions have been simmering between Islamabad and New Delhi for months over frequent incidents of clashes along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB) as well as allegations of harassment of diplomatic staff posted in each other’s country.
The Pakistan Army had invited Indian defence attaché and senior diplomats of the Indian High Commission to join the March 23 celebrations, according to sources. “It was an initiative of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and aimed at sending a message of peace to India. The purpose behind inviting Indian military representatives is to send a message that Pakistan stands for peace, while keeping itself ready to defend every inch of the country in case of any misadventure”.
In another first, a military contingent of United Arab Emirates (UAE) also participated in the Pakistan Day parade held at the Shakarparian Parade Avenue.
Besides the UAE contingent, a military band from Jordan took part in the parade, also for the first time. Another feature of this year’s Pakistan Day parade was the participation of Turkish Air Force planes, which displayed breath-taking skills along with Pakistan Air Force jets.
Published in Daily Times, March 24th 2018.
