Pakistan President: “No Safe Haven If Bloodshed Continues”

DID Press: president of Pakistan on Sunday defended his country’s recent airstrikes on targets inside Afghanistan, warning that if bloodshed continues within Pakistan, the perpetrators, planners, and sponsors “will not be spared.”

Asif Ali Zardari said the recent intelligence-led strikes on seven “terrorist camps” along the Afghan border were Islamabad’s “inherent right” to defend its citizens against cross-border militancy. The strikes followed a series of bombings and suicide attacks inside Pakistan.

He said the operations came after repeated warnings that went unanswered. Referring to remarks he made on 8 February, Zardari told the international community that when terrorist groups across national borders are given space, facilitation, or immunity, innocent civilians around the world ultimately pay the price.

Zardari also described the situation in Afghanistan as alarming, claiming conditions under Taliban rule are “similar to, or even worse than, the pre-9/11 era.”

He added that Pakistan had shown restraint for a considerable period and limited its response to militant hideouts in border areas. However, he warned that Islamabad knows where planners, facilitators, and sponsors of violence are based and that they would not remain beyond reach if attacks inside Pakistan continue.

At the same time, he stressed that Pakistan seeks peace, stability, and cooperative relations with all its neighbors, but peace cannot rest on “denial, duplicity, or inaction against terrorism.” Protecting Pakistani citizens, he said, is a fundamental and non-negotiable priority.