ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain praised his country's security forces and pledged to continue the fight against terrorism, speaking at a rally during a national holiday.
Hussain spoke Wednesday at a military parade to mark Pakistan's Republic Day at a stadium in Islamabad.
The event was held amid tight security, with authorities disabling mobile phone services in the city to thwart possible attacks.
During the rally, attended by several thousand people, Pakistan displayed nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems. Pakistan in 1998 announced it had become a nuclear power by launching a weapons test.
Hussein said that an ongoing military operation against militants in the northwest of the country had reached its "final phase." In recent years, Pakistan has been rocked by numerous militant attacks.