Pakistan Day celebrations: Here's what the newspapers across the border are reporting

As our neighbours celebrate their 77th Pakistan Day to mark the passing of the Lahore Resolution which demanded a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent, here’s what their press is reporting: [caption id=“attachment_3349090” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Reuters[/caption] Dawn reported that the celebrations kicked off at a military parade held at the Parade Ground near the Shakarparian hills in Islamabad with a pledge to make the country stronger by wiping out terror, achieving sustainable economic growth and political stability. ‘India jeopardising peace of region’ Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain, addressing the ceremony said, Pakistan’s traditional atomic power is to ensure regional peace and stability and accused India of jeopardising the peace of the region through irresponsible behaviour, Dawn reported. “We are ready for dialogue with India and want to resolve the issue of incomplete agenda of the division of the subcontinent, in accordance with the UN resolutions on Kashmir,” he said. ‘India tanking Indus Waters Treaty talks’ Dawn also reported that Pakistani officials accused India of tanking the next rounds of water talks which were slated held in Washington next month. Pakistan wants the World Bank to act as a guarantor of the Indus Waters Treaty, but India prefers negotiating within the framework of the treaty. Pakistani officials also stated that they wanted a decision that was legally binding on both India and Pakistan and that such a decision could come only from a court of arbitration and not a neutral expert. ‘Release Kashmiri leaders from house arrest’ According to a report in The Express Tribune, Pakistani foreign office urged India to release Kashmiri leaders who were put under house arrest in order to stop them from attending the reception being held at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi. “These arbitrary restrictions are against the principles of democracy and freedom of movement,” the foreign office said. “We impress upon India to release the Kashmiri leaders and representatives from Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir so that they are able to attend Pakistan National Day reception." ‘Thank you China’ A contingent of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Saudi Special Force’s contingents and Turkish Janissary Military Band also participated in the parade. Hussain thanked China for sending its soldiers for the parade and described it as a “historic opportunity”, Xinhua news agency reported. He said the Chinese army had never participated in such events earlier in Pakistan. Hussain also acknowledged the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, saying the project is a best example of bilateral economic partnership. Earlier, at rehearsal, Major General Li Jianbo, head of China’s 90-member contingent, said: “We have come here to convey a message of friendship to Pakistan on behalf of the Chinese people and the Chinese army. We sincerely hope that Pakistan will progress day by day and its army will be stronger and stronger.” With inputs from agencies