ISLAMABAD — President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed that Pakistan remains steadfast in defending its national interests, sovereignty, and security amid heightened border tensions with Afghanistan.
President Zardari said Pakistan would never accept any misleading stance on Jammu and Kashmir, calling India’s claims a “direct violation of international law and UN resolutions.”
He expressed disappointment over the Afghan leadership’s silence on Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir, describing it as “an injustice to both history and the Muslim Ummah.”
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Zardari accused Afghan-based Khwarij terrorists, supported by Indian elements, of targeting Pakistani civilians and security forces. He urged Kabul to take “concrete steps to eliminate anti-Pakistan elements operating from its territory.”
He reaffirmed that Pakistan’s support for Afghanistan spans over four decades, including hosting refugees and aiding humanitarian causes, but stressed that “Pakistan will not compromise on its sovereignty.”
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a parallel statement, condemned Afghan provocations along the border, praising the Pakistan Army’s decisive response under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir.
He said several Afghan posts were destroyed in retaliatory strikes and vowed that every act of aggression will be met with strength.
“Our defense is in capable hands,” Shehbaz said, adding that the entire nation stands with the armed forces.
Both leaders urged the Afghan interim government to ensure that its soil is not used by terrorist networks like Fitna al-Khawarij or Fitna al-Hindustan against Pakistan.
They concluded that joint counterterrorism efforts are the only path to lasting regional peace and stability.