Asif Ali Zardari has taken a firm stance against cross-border terrorism, stating that Pakistan’s limit of tolerance has been reached and those responsible for bloodshed inside the country will no longer remain beyond reach.
The President made it clear that Pakistan’s recent actions were carried out under its right to self-defense in order to protect its citizens from cross-border terrorism.
He said the international community had already been warned that giving space to terrorists ultimately results in innocent civilians paying the price.
Expressing concern over the current situation in Afghanistan, he said the government of the Afghan Taliban has created conditions that are a matter of serious concern for Pakistan.
According to him, the Kabul authorities had assured that Afghan soil would not be allowed to be used against any country, but the ground realities suggest otherwise.
President Zardari said the Afghan interim government is violating commitments made under the Doha Agreement and continues to allow terrorist elements to use Afghan territory.
He referred to a recent report by the United Nations Security Council, stating that it supports Pakistan’s long-standing position.
The report mentions that several groups, including ISIS-K, TTP, and al-Qaeda, are present in Afghanistan, and some factions are using Afghan soil to plan external attacks. According to the President, these activities pose a direct threat to neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan.
He said Pakistan has shown restraint for a long time and limited its actions to terrorist hideouts in border areas. However, protecting Pakistani lives remains the top priority, and there can be no compromise on national security.
He added that Pakistan seeks peace, stability, and cooperative relations in the region, but it will not allow any harm to come to its national security.
