A Pakistani Ranger (top) on Monday unfurls the national flag at the Wagah border to celebrate the country’s Independence Day. AFP

Islamabad, August 14

Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi today blamed India for the impasse in bilateral ties, saying New Delhi’s “expansionist designs” was the “main hurdle” in constructive relations between the two neighbours.Addressing the nation on its 70th Independence Day, Abbasi said Pakistan “desires positive and constructive” relations with all countries based on sovereign equality.Indo-Pak ties nosedived after a series of attacks last year, including the Uri strike, carried out by the Pakistan- based terror outfits. Following the attacks, India boycotted the SAARC Summit, which was scheduled to be held in November last in Pakistan.“Our government has invariably made efforts to initiate the process of meaningful dialogue and adoption of peaceful means to resolve the issues but unfortunately the expansionist designs of India have remained the main hurdle in this regard,” Abbasi said.Pakistan’s national flag today flew at 400 ft, the highest in South Asia, at the Attari-Wagah border with India to mark the country’s 70th Independence Day.The 120×80 ft flag is also the largest in the history of the country, the Pakistani media reported.Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa hoisted the flag near the border after midnight, kicking off the Independence Day celebrations across the country.The flag is said to be the highest in South Asia and the eighth highest in the world.Gen Bajwa said: “Some 77 years ago, Pakistan resolution was passed in the same city (Lahore). Pakistan came into being on the night of 27th Ramadan. Today, the country is progressing on the path of law and constitution. All institutions are working properly. We will make Pakistan the country of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.”He enunciated the many challenges Pakistan faced, but also tried to drum up the nationalistic sentiment.“We have rendered many sacrifices — we will never forget our martyrs. We will execute each and every terrorist in Pakistan. I want to tell our enemies, whether they are in the east or in the west, that your bullets will end but not the chests of our jawans,” he added.“I assure you that we will never let you down. Any power that will aim to weaken Pakistan, the Army and all other institutions will foil their attempts,” he said.Other speakers at the event also paid tributes to those killed during migration to Pakistan. — PTIOur friendship stronger than steel: Wang  Islamabad: Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, “special guest” at Pakistan’s Independence Day celebration, said on Monday that the two countries have always stood by each other and their friendship was “stronger than steel and sweeter than honey”. Wang, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of China’s ruling Communist Party, is among the country’s top leaders. He arrived in Islamabad on Sunday on a two-day visit. AFP