By Sardar Hussain
PESHAWAR, Pakistan
Pakistan has held its Republic Day for the first time in seven years, marking the historic day when the Muslims of the subcontinent (united India) sought a separate homeland on 23 March, 1940, after the passing of the Pakistan Resolution.
The occasion Monday was also used to display the military might of Pakistan.
Cellular phone networks were suspended in capital Islamabad to stave off potential attacks while some major roads were closed to the public.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif presided over the national event held in the scenic and serene area of Shakarparian-Islamabad where, for the first time female troopers also marched during the Pakistan Day military parade.
President Mamnoon paid tribute to soldiers fighting militants in the restive northwest province and tribal region of Pakistan, calling them his "sons."
President 'elated'
Addressing the military parade, he said the sacrifices made by the nation’s ancestors were matchless.
He said he appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan army in Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Khyber-II Operation, adding: "It makes me feel elated, watching the parade today."
The president also paid tribute to the child-martyrs of the Army Public School Peshawar who lost their lives in a Taliban attack on Dec. 16, 2014.
Referring to Pakistan-India relations, he said Pakistan wanted to maintain friendly ties with its neighbors.
During his speech, he also touched upon the Kashmir issue, which had much waned in Pakistan’s foreign policy in recent years.
He said the Kashmir dispute needed to be resolved through dialogue and according to the wishes of Kashmiri people, which observers took to be a softening of policy in Pakistan.
'Free atmosphere'
However, India made its stance clear regarding dialogue on Kashmir.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was quoted by the IBN news agency as saying: "There is no space for a third party in talks with Pakistan and the resolution of the issue between the two neighboring countries will be carried out by their respective governments."
Indian President Narendra Modi said on Twitter: "It’s my first conviction that all outstanding issues can be resolved through bilateral dialogue in an atmosphere free from terror and violence.
"I have written to Pakistan PM Mr. Nawaz Sharif, conveying my greetings on the National Day of Pakistan."
Mamnoon said Islamabad wanted cordial relations with Kabul.
Unconditional support
Currently, Afghanistan pursues peace dialogues with the Taliban and eyes Pakistan’s proactive support in nudging the militant network into talks.
For Pakistan, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered hope of less fractious ties with Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been pursuing a friendly relationship with Kabul.
In his message to the nation on the Republic Day, he said that militants threatening Pakistan were hell-bent on taking not only lives but they had shaken the edifice of the Pakistani nation.
Nawaz said he was confident his government, with the assistance of armed forces which enjoy liberal and unconditional support from all political spheres, would uproot militancy.
