In pictures: The Pakistan Day parade

Chinese, Saudi troops and a Turkish military band participated in the Mar 23 military parade held to mark Pakistan Day.
Published March 23, 2017

Pakistan's armed forces displayed nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems during the 23rd March parade held to mark Pakistan Day.

Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, when the All-India Muslim League demanded a separate nation for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire.

For the first time, troops from China and Saudi Arabia also featured at the event.

A historic Turkish military band played national anthems in their first performance at the annual event.

The Pakistan Day parade had resumed in 2015 after a gap of seven years and was seen as a manifestation of the military's show of strength in the wake of a shocking attack in 2014 on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, which left 150 dead, including 132 schoolchildren.

A Pakistan army paratrooper performs during a military parade to mark Pakistan's Republic Day.─AP
A Pakistan army paratrooper performs during a military parade to mark Pakistan's Republic Day.─AP

Pakistani jets perform aerobatic manoeuvres during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistani jets perform aerobatic manoeuvres during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet flies past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet flies past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistani jets perform aerobatic manoeuvres during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistani jets perform aerobatic manoeuvres during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistani army soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistani army soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet flies past during a Pakistan Day military parade─AFP
A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet flies past during a Pakistan Day military parade─AFP

Pakistani forces soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistani forces soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistan Air Force soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistan Air Force soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistani border soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistani border soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistan paramilitary soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistan paramilitary soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Female Pakistani army soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Female Pakistani army soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Female soldiers of Pakistan's Air Force, Navy and Army march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Female soldiers of Pakistan's Air Force, Navy and Army march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

President Mamnoon Hussain inspects a guard of honour during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
President Mamnoon Hussain inspects a guard of honour during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistani women army soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistani women army soldiers march past during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

President Mamnoon Hussain rides a horse-drawn carriage escorted by presidential guards as he arrives at the venue for a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
President Mamnoon Hussain rides a horse-drawn carriage escorted by presidential guards as he arrives at the venue for a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif guides President Mamnoon Hussain during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif guides President Mamnoon Hussain during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) shakes hands with Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat.─AFP
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) shakes hands with Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat.─AFP

Pakistan's tank crews steer their vehicles during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistan's tank crews steer their vehicles during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistan's tank crews steer their vehicles during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistan's tank crews steer their vehicles during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistani military personnel stand beside short-range Surface to Surface Missile NASR during a Pakistan Day military parade─AFP
Pakistani military personnel stand beside short-range Surface to Surface Missile NASR during a Pakistan Day military parade─AFP

Pakistani military personnel salute as they take part in a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistani military personnel salute as they take part in a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Pakistani military personnel salute as they take part in a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Pakistani military personnel salute as they take part in a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Chinese troops march as they take part in Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Chinese troops march as they take part in Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

Chinese troops march as they take part in Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
Chinese troops march as they take part in Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP

A Pakistani military officer salutes during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP
A Pakistani military officer salutes during a Pakistan Day military parade.─AFP