Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has called on India to return to the “negotiating table,” while asserting that New Delhi and Kabul have witnessed only a “fraction” of Islamabad’s military capabilities.
Addressing a joint session of Pakistan’s parliament on Monday, Zardari described war as a measure of last resort and reiterated his long-standing support for regional peace.
“For us, war is always the last option,” he said. “No state accepts serial attacks on its soil… We have let both India and Afghanistan see a fraction of our capabilities.”
Tensions with India and Afghanistan
Relations between Pakistan and India remain strained following a four-day military confrontation last May, triggered by a terrorist attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists.
Meanwhile, hostilities have also flared along Pakistan’s western frontier. Islamabad and Kabul have periodically exchanged fire since October 2025. Most recently, Pakistan launched heavy artillery fire and airstrikes against Afghan positions, stating that the action was in response to Afghan Taliban forces killing two Pakistani soldiers during cross-border firing a day earlier.
Pakistan has since claimed a decisive outcome in the latest escalation, alleging significant casualties on the Afghan side.
“This was not just a military victory; it was an expression of our national resolve in crisis,” Zardari said.
Call for Negotiations, Reaffirmation on Kashmir
While emphasising military preparedness, the Pakistani president maintained that dialogue remains the preferred path forward.
“Make no mistake. We are ready for you,” he said, addressing India. “My message is to move away from war theatres to meaningful negotiating tables because that is the only path for regional security.”
Zardari further reiterated Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, stating that Islamabad would continue to extend “its fullest diplomatic and moral support” to what he described as the cause of the Kashmiri people.
Pakistan claims the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in its entirety, while currently administering roughly 30% of the territory. Approximately 55% is under Indian administration, with the remaining portion controlled by China.
The remarks underscore the continuing volatility in South Asia, where military posturing and diplomatic overtures continue to unfold in parallel.
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