Islamabad, Mar 24: For the first time, Indian military officials and diplomats attended the Pakistan Day parade on Friday. The unprecedented move comes amid the plunge in India-Pakistan bilateral ties, which recently saw Islamabad calling back its High Commissioner to New Delhi, Sohail Mahmood.

The Pakistan Day parade, held annually on March 23, commemorates the Lahore Declaration of 1940, which envisaged the creation of Pakistan. In the past 70 years, officials posted at the Indian High Commissioner and Indian Defence Attache were not extended official invitation to attend the event.

Sources, while speaking to the Express Tribune, said the invitation was extended to the Indian officials on the recommendation of Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.

While speaking to reporters on Friday, Sohail Mahmood, who was recently rescinded to Pakistan, said the recent controversy involving the "harassment of diplomats" should be amicably resolved.

"For India and Pakistan, the only solution for all issues is dialogue. In the past 70 years, there were issues we failed to resolve. But going forward, we will talk and resolve all pending issues, including Kashmir," he said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain, in his keynote address, warned India against "provocations". "Pakistan is ready to cooperate and join hands for lasting peace. But our commitment towards peace should not be mistaken as our weakness," he said, further accusing India of repeatedly breaching the ceasefire violation at the Line of Control.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2018 02:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).