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President Asif Ali Zardari. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan’s recent actions are rooted in its inherent right to defend its people against terrorism emanating from across the border and following repeated warnings that were not heeded.
Referring to his statement of February 8, 2026, the President recalled that he had stated that Pakistan takes strong exception to the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime has created conditions similar to or worse than those that prevailed before 9/11.
He added that Pakistan had warned the international community that “when terrorist groups are given space, facilitation or impunity beyond national borders, the consequences are borne by innocent civilians worldwide.”
It is of deep concern that the de facto authorities in Kabul – a regime not recognized by the United Nations – have continued to allow terrorist elements to operate from Afghan soil in violation of their obligations under the Doha agreement, in which they pledged that Afghan territory would not be used against any country, he said.
The President noted that the latest report by the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has strengthened Pakistan’s longstanding position.
The report states: “A large number of Member States consistently report that ISIL-K, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaida, Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement aka Turkistan Islamic Party (ETIM/TIP), Jamaat Ansarullah, Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaeda, Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement aka Turkistan Islamic Party (ETIM/TIP), Jamaat Ansarullah, Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, and others are present to use the plan for Afghanistan and others are present in Afghanistan attack.”
The President noted that this assessment by the United Nations makes it clear that the presence and activities of these organizations pose a serious threat to neighboring countries, including Pakistan. “It is regrettable that, despite clear warnings and repeated engagement, the Afghan authorities have failed to take credible and verifiable action against these elements.”
He said that Pakistan showed restraint for a long period and limited its response to terrorist hideouts near the border areas. However, he warned that Pakistan is fully aware of where the planners, facilitators and patrons of the violence are based. If the bloodshed continues in Pakistan, those responsible will not remain out of reach.
President Zardari reaffirmed that Pakistan seeks peace, stability and cooperative relations with all its neighbours. He said peace cannot rest on denial, duplicity or inaction against terrorism. “The protection of Pakistani lives remains paramount and non-negotiable,” he added.
