Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi said on Saturday that the country wants peace with India and that both sides should focus on education and health, during a military parade to express it might following a standoff between the two nuclear-armed countries.
According to Reuters news reports, while delivering a speech during the Pakistan National day, Alvi said, “We do not believe in war and want to solve problems through dialogue.” He added, “Instead of war we should focus on education and health.”
The president who holds ceremonial duties largely, said that India had several times blamed Pakistan for the suicide bombing attack in Jammu and Kashmir over Indian paramilitary convoys without any suitable evidence, which he called was “irresponsible”.
Saturday’s military parade included an air show featuring the Pakistani-built JF-17 fighter jet.
The president said, “Today’s parade is sending the message that we are a peaceful people but we will never be oblivious of our defence.”
The military parade was attended by Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian prime minister, who has visited Islamabad over the invitation from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Khan said on Twitter earlier that he had received a message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his best wishes for Republic Day and calling for peace and regional cooperation.