Alvi renews call for peace with India

islamabad — Pakistan wants peace with India and they should focus on health and education, President Arif Alvi said on Saturday during a parade to show off Pakistan’s military might following a tense standoff between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Indian counterpart exchanged goodwill messages in a sign of easing tensions between the neighbours.

Tensions between Pakistan and India flared last month after the Indian air force launched an air strike inside Pakistan, saying it was targeting alleged militant hideouts. Pakistan retaliated and said it shot down two Indian air force planes. One pilot was captured and later released. India says it lost only one plane.

“We do not believe in war and want to solve problems through dialogue,” President Arif Alvi said in his Pakistan Day speech.

“Instead of war we should focus on education and health.”

Alvi said the region needs peace, not war, and that Pakistan wants to live peacefully with its neighbours. He said Pakistan’s war is against hunger, poverty and unemployment. “Our desire for peace shouldn’t be construed as our weakness. Let’s end the hatred and sow the seeds of peace in this region for prosperity of the people,” Alvi said.

The president said India had blamed Pakistan for the Pulwama attack without evidence, which he said was irresponsible.

“Today’s parade is sending the message that we are a peaceful people but we will never be oblivious of our defence,” Alvi said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was the chief guest of the parade, in which troops marched through the parade ground in Islamabad and warplanes staged acrobatic flyovers.

The military parade included an air show featuring the Pakistanibuilt JF-17 fighter jet — one of the aircraft shot down the Indian plane last month.

The parade was also attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan and the three services chiefs.

Imran said on Twitter earlier that he had received a message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his best wishes and calling for peace and regional cooperation. “I welcome PM Modi’s message to our people,” Imran Khan said.

“I believe it’s time to begin a comprehensive dialogue with India to address and resolve all issues, esp the central issue of Kashmir,” he said. —

We do not believe in war and want to solve problems through dialogue. Instead of war we should focus on education and health

Arif Alvi, Pakistan President

— Photos by AP, AFP, Reuters the military parade included a display of Pakistani-made missiles, tanks, fighter jets and other hardware. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was the chief guest on the occasion. the event was attended by President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister imran Khan and commander of the national guard of Bahrain, lt-gen sheikh Mohammed bin isa bin salman Al Khalifa, and the three armed forces chiefs in islamabad on saturday.