close
Friday March 29, 2024

Spectacular show of military might on Pakistan Day

By our correspondents
March 24, 2017

Friendly countries China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey participate in parade; flag lowering ceremonies at Wagah and Hussainiwala borders pull crowds; Mamnoon says Pakistan ready for talks with India to resolve Kashmir dispute; army chief repeats resolve to purge country of Fasaadis; Indian president among world leaders felicitate Pakistan; Chief of National Defence Forces of South Africa witnesses event as special guest

ISLAMABAD: The defence forces on Thursday spectacularly exhibited the spirit, valour and high level of preparedness to defend the motherland on the 77th Pakistan Day.

The joint services parade, being the main function to mark the day, was held here at the Parade Venue, Shakarparian. The flag lowering ceremonies at the Wagah Border and Hussainiwala Border were also key functions of the day. The Wagah Border ceremony attracted a large crowd of spectators and warmed up the nation on this auspicious occasion.

In Islamabad, President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif were the chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

Chief of National Defence Forces of South Africa GeneralSolly Zacharia Shoke witnessed the parade as the special guest, which was especially participated by the tri-services troops of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, a contingent of Special Services Group of Saudi Royal Forces and Meheter Band, the oldest military band of Turkey.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah and Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif were also present at the dais.

The event has attained historic value as the defence forces of China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey participated in the Pakistan Day Joint Services Parade for the first time.

A large number of federal cabinet members, parliamentarians, diplomats, foreign dignitaries, civil and military officers and general public witnessed the historic moments and appreciated the armed and civil forces.

CAS Air Chief Marshal Suhail Aman led the fly-past himself flying a fighter aircraft marking the inauguration of the ceremony by presenting salute to the chief guest and other guests while personnel of the Special Services Group of the three forces presented the farewell salute through freefall at the Parade Venue.

Although, the whole activity going on at the venue for three hours was attractive, the tune played by the Turkish Meheter band was the most appreciable one. The band from the brotherly country played the tune of famous national song “Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan” with the entire crowd singing in chorus.

The march-past by troops from China and Saudi Arabia also aroused thunderous applause from the spectators, which were rare moments in their life. General Solly Zacharia Shoke was seen taking keen interest in every segment of the joint services parade.

Another enthralling event of the day was aerobatic maneuvers by the Brave Hearts (Sherdil) team comprising six jets of Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which flew in the skies for quite some time to receive high acclaim.

Indigenously-built multi-role aircraft J-F 17 Thunder with the assistance of China was also part of the flypast which flew at variable velocities and showcased a number manoeuvres and aerobatics by flying low and high in the air.

The marching columns of the three services and civil armed forces marched past the salute dais receiving high appreciation. As part of the mechanised drill, the recently inducted sophisticated air defence system by the Army Air Defence was part of the exhibition on the occasion.

Besides cruise missile with 100 percent accuracy, the latest versions of Shaheen-I and Shaheen-III missiles having range from 900-2700 km also made their maiden appearance during the parade.

President Mamnoon Hussain arrived at the venue in a horse-driven carriage, escorted by traditional unit of President’s Bodyguards. He was received by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The president was presented a guard of honour and then the national anthem was played. He viewed the parade along with Parade Commander Brig Ahsan Nawaz.

The PAF’s fly-past included F-16, JF-17 Thunder, F-7 PG, Mirages, F-7P, SAAB-2006 and Kurakoram Eagle AWACS aircraft. All flew at the height of 500 feet. The fighter aircraft are equipped with the latest airborne surveillance system.

AWACS aircraft has made Pakistan’s air defence impregnable. SAAB-2000 aircraft can locate the enemy at a distance of 300-400 km. Kurakoram Eagle (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is equipped with KLC-7 radars which can pick up enemy’s air movement from 500-600 kms.

The P-3C Orion aircraft of Pakistan Navy was also part of the flypast. It is equipped with torpedoes and mines, and is also known as flying destroyer. It can continuously fly for 17 hours. The Burraq drone was also part of the parade. It can fly at an altitude of 20,000 feet, fire Burraq missile and engage its target upto 7-8 kms. It can continuously fly for 10 hours. A tri-services lady officers contingent was part of the parade. Mechanised columns were led by the armoured corps. It consisted of Al-Khalid, T-80 UD and Al-Zarrar tanks.

Built at the Heavy Industries Taxila, the Al-Zarrar tank has the ability to fight at night and day, and can protect itself against nuclear, biological and chemical attack. The contingent of mechanised infantry consisting of armoured personnel carriers, TOW (tube launched optically tracked wire guided missile system) was also part of the parade. The contingent also included Mine Resistant Ambush Protected system.

Army Engineers and Signals contingents with state-of-the-art equipment also made their appearance on the scene. Marching columns included troops from Baloch, Azad Kashmir, Sindh, Northern Light Infantry, Mujahid Force, Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, contingents of Navy and PAF, Islamabad Police, Lady officers, Armed Forces Nursing Service, Girls Guides, Boys Scouts.

Floats of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh participated in the parade and depicted culture of their respective areas. About 19 helicopters of the Army Aviation participated in the parade.

ZULU-10 attack helicopters, Cobra attack helicopters, Fennec, Bell-412, Puma and MI-17 participated in the fly past.

Major General Muhammad Khalil Dar, General Officer Commanding, led the Army Aviation fly-past. Zolu Niners of Pakistan Navy participated in the aviation fly-past. PUMA helicopter exhibition was a special feature of the parade.

Commandos of three services also made free fall jump from a height of 10,000 feet and landed at the Parade Venue to the thunderous applause of spectators from all walks of life. General Officer Commanding SSG led the skydiving. He presented the Pakistani flag to the President after safely landing at the venue. National songs by the schoolchildren from twin cities formally marked the culmination of the event.

In his address, President Mamnoon Hussain termed Pakistan's defence as "impregnable". He said the country's conventional and nuclear capabilities were meant to ensure global and regional peace.

He said the country's defence was strong and expressed the resolve to make every effort for progress, prosperity and solidarity of the homeland. He said Pakistan wanted peaceful and friendly relations with its neighbours. He, however, regretted that irresponsible attitude of India and its continuous violation at the Line of Control and Working Boundary had put the region's peace at risk.

"Pakistan is ready to hold negotiations with India and also wants to resolve the issue of Kashmir in accordance with the resolutions of United Nations," he stressed.

He termed Kashmir "unfinished agenda of the Sub-continent's partition," and said Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to its Kashmiri brethren.

He urged upon the international community to fulfill its obligation in this regard so as to realise the dream of regional stability and sustainable peace.

The president felicitated the audience on the Pakistan Day and said the occasion narrated an account of determination and faith which gave strength to the Muslims of Sub-continent to change the history and geography of the world under the prudent leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

"On this day, a direction-less nation discovered its ideological identity and left a lasting imprint on global scenario with the creation of Pakistan," he said. The president paid tributes to those who sacrificed their lives for Pakistan and its stability and said their footsteps would be followed to uphold the country's sovereignty.

COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that nation will have to stay steadfast for cleaning Pakistan from Fasaadis and enemies. In his message on Pakistan Day, the Army Chief felicitated the nation, spectators and participants on successful parade and appreciated security arrangements.

The army chief also thanked China, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and South Africa for participation in Pakistan Day celebrations. General Bajwa said Pakistan is significant in comity of nations and is a peaceful country. Acknowledging sacrifices of Ghazis and shaheeds, he said, “They are our heroes and their sacrifices will not go waste.”

Heads of states and governments of various countries have extended good wishes and congratulations to the government and people of Pakistan on the auspicious occasion of Pakistan Day.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee took to Twitter to extend greeting to Pakistani nation and the government in connection with Pakistan Day celebrations. He further wrote India is committed to building ties with Pakistan in an environment free from terror and violence.

According to Radio Pakistan, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier of State Council Li Keqiang in their separate messages have said that Pakistani people have properly responded to different kinds of challenges and made new achievements in maintaining national security, stability and economic development.