Asia

Pakistani president at military parade offers talks to India

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Pakistani commandos from the Special Services Group march during a military parade to mark Pakistan's Republic Day, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, March 23, 2017. President Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India on all issues, including Kashmir, as he opened the annual military parade. During the parade, attended by several thousand people, Pakistan displayed nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

A Pakistani-made Shaheen-III missile, that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, is on display during a military parade to mark Pakistan's Republic Day, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, March 23, 2017. President Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India on all issues, including Kashmir, as he opened the annual military parade. During the parade, attended by several thousand people, Pakistan displayed nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

A contingent of the Chinese People's Liberation Army march during a military parade to mark Pakistan's Republic Day, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, March 23, 2017. President Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India on all issues, including Kashmir, as he opened the annual military parade. During the parade, attended by several thousand people, Pakistan displayed nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

President Mamnoon Hussain says Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India on all issues, including Kashmir, as he opened an annual military parade to mark the country's Republic Day.

Chinese army also participated in Thursday's parade as a show of Beijing's strong friendship with Pakistan. Pakistan displayed nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets and other weapons at the parade.

Hussain said the audience at a stadium in Islamabad that the Chinese army has never participated in such an event in any other country.

In a televised speech, Hussain accused India of endangering peace by violating a cease-fire in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is split between Pakistan and India and has been the cause of two of their wars.