J-10, JF-17 and F-16 flypast mesmerize the crowds at Pakistan Day parade
Pakistanis celebrated March 23 with a traditional parade at Shakarparian ground in Islamabad displaying the country’s military might.
The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and a 21-gun salute in provincial capitals, followed by change-of-guards ceremonies at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Mohammad Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore.
President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and three services chiefs Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi attended the parade. Foreign ministers and delegates of OIC states attended the parade as guests of honors.
Three contingents of the armed forces and other security forces conducted a march saluting the leaders of Pakistan while fighter planes presented aerobatic manoeuvres.
Troops from other countries, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, also participated in the parade.
After the mesmerizing aerial performance by PAF’s aerobatics display team ‘Sherdil’, Pakistan Army, PAF and Navy parachuters demonstrated their skills with free-falls from 10,000 feet. Major General Adil Rehmani, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Special Service Group (SSG), elite unit of commandos from the army, then presented the flag of Pakistan to President Alvi.
Several units from Pakistan’s army, air force, and navy participated in the parade. Fighter jets, including the newly inducted J-10C, JF-17, and F-16 also held a flypast before the crowds.
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu led the formations of PAF and PN flypast aircraft at Pakistan Day parade. The Air Chief flew over the venue in F-16 Block 52 aircraft performing a magnificent climb along side two J-10C aircraft as the fascinated audience fervently watched the aerial performance.
In his address to the nation, President Alvi said Pakistan is a peace-loving country and a responsible atomic power that wanted peace with all other nations and respected their sovereignty.
However, he made it clear that Pakistan would never compromise on its security and sovereignty and would give a forceful response to any aggression directed towards it. “I believe our nation won’t hesitate from any sacrifice for the country’s security,” Alvi added.
Dr Alvi reiterated the resolve to take Pakistan to the heights of glory as envisioned by forefathers. He emphasized the need for national unity to face the challenges confronting Pakistan and highlighted the responsible role played by the country for peace and security in the region.
During the parade, the Pakistan displayed the modern VT-4 main battle tank and the locally developed Al-Khalid 1 tank, the newly inducted advanced SH-15 artillery system, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and air defense systems including the advanced Q-9/P high to medium air defense system (HIMADS), electronic warfare equipment and Pakistan-built reconnaissance UAV Shahpar and Uqab Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
