ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday warned Afghanistan’s interim government to dismantle terrorist groups operating from their territory, saying Pakistan will not tolerate cross-border attacks and “will respond decisively” to any aggression.
Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, Zardari said Pakistan had exercised restraint but acted firmly when its sovereignty was challenged.
Cross-border attacks
The president said the past 10 months tested the country in “profound and complex ways.” He said that when confronted with attacks on its borders, Pakistan responded with “strategic restraint and firm resolve.”
On the western border, he said, security forces acted quickly after an increase in attacks on Feb. 26 by the Taliban regime. “Our security forces acted decisively to signal zero tolerance for any incursions into our sovereign territory,” he said.
He stated that the political leadership stood united and the people of Pakistan “resolute.”
Warning to Kabul
Zardari said Pakistan had tried “every possible form of diplomacy” to prevent escalation after terrorist incursions from Afghan territory. But he warned that patience has limits.
“The Taliban regime saw with shock and awe what Pakistan could do if pushed past the red line,” he said. “We let both India and Afghanistan see a fraction of our capability.”
He cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, which he said gives Pakistan the right to defend its sovereignty. He said Pakistan would not allow any entity to use neighboring territory to destabilize its peace.
President Zardari said that despite repeated diplomatic engagements, the Afghan de facto regime continues to provide safe havens to groups including Al-Qaeda, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Commitments made in Doha to prevent such activity, he said, had been ignored.
“They must choose to dismantle the terrorist groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” he said, urging Afghanistan’s rulers not to allow their country to be used as a battlefield for other powers.
Broader security message
The president said the past year tested Pakistan in “profound and complex ways.” He said the country responded with “strategic restraint and firm resolve” when its sovereignty was challenged.
He praised the armed forces for successful operations on both eastern and western borders and said the political leadership and the public stood united.
“The soil of Pakistan is sacred,” he said. “We will not allow any entity, domestic or foreign, to destabilize our peace.”
Regional and global stance
Zardari condemned the war on Iran while negotiations were underway, saying the attacks undermined peace. He said Pakistan supports Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The president described ties with China as having reached new heights and thanked President Xi Jinping for solidarity and cooperation.
Economy and federation
President Zardari linked economic stability to national security. He said the government had steered the country away from economic collapse in 2022 and restored stability to key indicators.
He called for inclusive growth, structural reforms and transparency in taxation. He also focused on energy reform, climate resilience, agricultural stability and equitable resource distribution among provinces.
“A strong federation does not require centralization,” he said. “It requires coordination and constitutional governance.”
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