India celebrates Republic Day, warns Pakistan
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Indian police march during the Republic Day celebrations in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad on Jan 26, 2013. India marked its Republic Day with celebrations held under heavy security, especially in New Delhi where large areas were sealed off for an annual parade of military hardware at which Bhutan's king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was chief guest. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Indian paramilitary security staff performs a stunt on a motorcycle during Republic Day celebrations at Assam Rifles ground in Agartala, in the northeastern state of Tripura on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Indian Air Force bomber aircraft fly past during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Indian army artillery is displayed during Republic Day parade, in New Delhi, India on Saturday, Jan 26, 2013. Indians across the country celebrated Republic Day, which commemorates the 1950 adoption of its constitution. -- PHOTO: AP
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Indian army soldiers march in formation during the annual Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New Delhi, India on Saturday, Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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A surface-to-surface Agni V missile is displayed during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Indian soldiers march down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Indian National Cadet Corps (NCC) marches during the Republic Day celebrations in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A float representing the Indian state of Kashmir rolls down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A float representing the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh rolls down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A float representing the Indian state of Kerala rolls down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A float representing the Indian state of West Bengal rolls down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Indian police march during the Republic Day celebrations in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad on Jan 26, 2013. India marked its Republic Day with celebrations held under heavy security, especially in New Delhi where large areas were sealed off for an annual parade of military hardware at which Bhutan's king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was chief guest. -- PHOTO: AFP
Indian paramilitary security staff performs a stunt on a motorcycle during Republic Day celebrations at Assam Rifles ground in Agartala, in the northeastern state of Tripura on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Indian Air Force bomber aircraft fly past during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Indian army artillery is displayed during Republic Day parade, in New Delhi, India on Saturday, Jan 26, 2013. Indians across the country celebrated Republic Day, which commemorates the 1950 adoption of its constitution. -- PHOTO: AP
Indian army soldiers march in formation during the annual Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New Delhi, India on Saturday, Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
A surface-to-surface Agni V missile is displayed during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Indian soldiers march down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Indian National Cadet Corps (NCC) marches during the Republic Day celebrations in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
A float representing the Indian state of Kashmir rolls down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
A float representing the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh rolls down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
A float representing the Indian state of Kerala rolls down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
A float representing the Indian state of West Bengal rolls down the ceremonial boulevard Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
NEW DELHI (AFP) - India marked its Republic Day on Saturday with a veiled warning to Pakistan that its hand of friendship should "not be taken for granted" after deadly border clashes between the two sides.
Celebrations were being held under heavy security, especially in New Delhi where large areas were sealed off for an annual parade of military hardware at which Bhutan's king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was chief guest.
India's President Pranab Mukherjee told rival Pakistan in his annual address to the nation on the eve of the celebrations that New Delhi's hand of friendship should "not be taken for granted".
His warning came amid a ceasefire which took hold last week in the disputed region of Kashmir after the nuclear-armed nations agreed to halt cross-border firing that has threatened to unravel a fragile peace process.
