ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday held a grand parade to mark the 77th anniversary of the 1940 Resolution for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent, showcasing its military might and unprecedentedly displaying its alignment in international politics.

With some 3,000 troops and paramilitary forces marching alongside dozens of pieces of military hardware and air force aircraft flying overhead, the parade in the federal capital was the premier event of the nationwide commemorative celebrations.

The feature of the ceremony, however, was the first-ever participation by contingents from Chinese People’s Liberation Army and Saudi special forces and a performance by Turkey’s premier Mehter band.

Presiding over the ceremony, President Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan wanted peace in the region and beyond, and its conventional and nuclear capabilities were meant to ensure global and regional peace.

He said the country’s defence was impregnable.

Event marks rare participation by China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey

The main guest on the occasion was Chief of South African National Defence Force Gen Solly Zacharia Shoke. Sharing the podium with the president were Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sohail Aman and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Military power display

Columns of armoured corps, mechanised infantry, artillery, air defence, engineering, and telecommunication vehicles and an array of unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles were paraded before the gathered leaders and guests.

The highlights of the display were Chinese-made LY-80 mobile ground-to-air defence missile system, which had earlier this month been commissioned and return of battlefield nuclear-capable Nasr missile to parade after it was kept away last year over Western concerns.

The military hardware exhibited the country’s military might and the technological progress achieved in defence technology. The official commentators described it as full display of Pakistan’s military power.

International participation

It was the first time in the history of the annual parade that troops from Pakistan’s key allies China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey took part in it.

President Hussain said it was the first time that Chinese troops were parading outside their country.

The lead commentator of the ceremony, Col Muhammad Shafiq of the Inter-Services Public Relations, announced the entry of the Chinese contingent, chanting ‘Pak-Cheen Dosti Zindabad’. The Chinese contingent excitedly said it was a historic moment.

While Chinese footprint in Pakistan has been rapidly expanding since Beijing and Islamabad joined hands for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, analysts believe that the participation of foreign troops was meant to counter perceptions of Pakistan’s growing isolation at the global scene.

Participation from China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, moreover, showed Pakistan’s foreign policy direction in the realigning global power structure.

Army Chief Bajwa in a statement at the end of the ceremony thanked China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and South African chief of defence forces for participation. “Pakistan is significant in comity of nations. We are a peaceful country,” he added.

Security

As always high security was put in place for the event. Mobile phone networks remained down and traffic around the parade venue remained closed.

Gen Bajwa appreciated the security arrangements, the ISPR said.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017