Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed that Pakistan remains firmly committed to safeguarding its national interests, regional sovereignty, and security.
According to Radio Pakistan, the President stated that Pakistan will never accept any disputed or misleading position on Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating that India’s unlawful claims over the territory are contrary to international law and the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
President Zardari expressed disappointment over the current Interim Afghan administration’s stance, which he believes neglects the rightful struggle of the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, thereby doing injustice to both history and the Muslim Ummah.
He highlighted the well-documented issue of attacks launched from the territory of the Interim Afghan Government by India-backed Khawarij terrorists, as confirmed in successive United Nations Security Council monitoring reports. Pakistan, he noted, has consistently communicated that its civilians and security personnel are being targeted through the nexus of the Indian sponsored Khawarij and other terror groups.
President Zardari urged the Interim Afghan government to take concrete and verifiable action against anti-Pakistan terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil, emphasizing that the terror menace of the Khawarij and other groups sponsored by India remain the greatest threat to regional peace and stability.
He further stated that terrorism is a shared challenge and its burden cannot be placed on any single country. He also highlighted Pakistan’s demonstration of Islamic fraternity and neighborliness by hosting millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades, asserting that the dignified repatriation of Afghan citizens is essential for sustainable peace.
President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the educational and humanitarian needs of the Afghan people, while maintaining that there will be no compromise on Pakistan’s national sovereignty.
He also recalled Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate Afghanistan in trade, economic connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, highlighting that mutual cooperation and economic partnership are the foundation for lasting peace and regional prosperity.
The President expressed hope for peaceful, stable, and prosperous relations with Afghanistan, based on mutual respect, security cooperation, and a shared commitment to regional peace.
Meanwhile, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the unprovoked firing by Afghan forces, describing it as a clear violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.
He stated that such aggressive actions endanger innocent lives and undermine the spirit of good neighborly relations between the two countries. The Governor emphasized the strength, professionalism, and determination demonstrated by Pakistan’s armed forces in defending the nation.