Islamabad- Pakistan held its first Republic Day parade in seven years, a symbolic show of strength in the war against terrorism.
Pakistan Day commemorates March 23, 1940, when the Muslim League demanded the establishment of separate nations to protect Muslims in the then British colony of India.
This parade was at the newly constructed Parade Ground near Faizabad Interchange amid tight security with traffic and pedestrian access blocked.
On the occasion, contingents displayed tankers, UAVs, strategic weapons including land-to-land, cruise and nuclear warhead-capable missiles, marched past the parade ground.
Military jets and helicopters flew over the picturesque, low-rise city in the warm, spring sunshine, with a sky-diving team due to show off its skills against the backdrop of the Margalla Hills, the low, forested foothills of the Himalayas.