ISLAMABAD, June 4 -- Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain told the parliament on Thursday that the war on terror would continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.

Pakistan has lost thousands of people and security personnel in the war on terror and also suffered nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars loss, according to officials.

Security forces have cleared most of areas of the Pakistani Taliban and other armed groups and are now fighting in parts of North Waziristan tribal region that borders Afghanistan. "The nation stands united on the issue of flushing out the terrorists at all costs,"Hussain told the joint sitting of the parliament on the advent of the new parliamentary year. The speech marks the third parliamentary year of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The president paid homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the betterment of the future generation and assured their heirs that the nation would never forget their sacrifices. "Terrorists are targeting different sects of Muslims and minorities in different parts of the country including Balochistan province and tribal areas. All the people belonging to different sects as well as minorities are equal citizens of Pakistan and they will be protected,"he said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the session. Senior military leaders and diplomats were also invited to the special session.

Hussain said Pakistan is a peace-loving country and intends to have friendly relations with its neighbors on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

He said Pakistan and China have very cordial and friendly relations for six decades and the recent visit of the Chinese president will open new vistas of mutual cooperation and give a new dimension to these relations. "Better relations with Afghanistan are a result of our good intention that led a new era of friendship with that country."He expressed the hope that this beginning would lead to long-lasting peace and stability in the region besides opening new avenues of cooperation.

The president said that friendly relations with India on the basis of mutual confidence and cooperation are a priority but"we want that India must take steps to resolve the Kashmir issue according to the UN resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people to provide solid ground for peace in the region."