ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm stance on safeguarding its sovereignty and called upon Afghanistan’s leadership to take decisive action against anti-Pakistan terrorist groups operating from its territory.
In a strongly worded statement from the Presidency, the president said Pakistan would not tolerate continued cross-border attacks and violations of its sovereignty. He urged the Taliban administration to “take practical steps” to dismantle terrorist networks launching operations against Pakistan from Afghan soil.
“Pakistan will never compromise on its sovereignty and national integrity,” the president said. “The terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory are well-documented, and it is time for Kabul to fulfil its international obligations.”
President Zardari said Pakistan had consistently pursued peace and cooperation with its neighbour, but provocations and inaction from the Afghan side had tested the country’s patience. He noted that Pakistan had hosted millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades, demonstrating goodwill and brotherhood. “That goodwill must not be mistaken for weakness,” he said.
He also underscored that terrorism was a shared regional challenge that could not be tackled by any one country alone. “It is time for Afghanistan to act responsibly and ensure its soil is not used by the Khawarij and other terrorist factions targeting Pakistan.”
The president reiterated that Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir remained unchanged, calling India’s claims over the disputed territory “illegal and void under international law.” He said it was regrettable that the Afghan leadership had ignored the plight of the Kashmiri people, calling it a “betrayal of both history and the Muslim Ummah.”
“The nexus between the Khawarij and Indian elements is clear,” Zardari said. “They are targeting our civilians and security forces in an attempt to destabilize Pakistan.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, echoing the president’s stance, condemned Afghanistan’s unprovoked cross-border firing, warning that Pakistan was “exercising extreme caution” in its defensive response.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Dar expressed deep concern over the escalating situation, calling it a “serious provocation that threatens regional stability.”
He said Pakistan’s counteraction targeted “terrorist infrastructure belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna al-Khawarij, and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), or Fitna al-Hindustan,” both operating from Afghan soil.
“Our strikes are purely defensive,” Dar stated. “They are aimed at neutralizing those who are attacking Pakistan — not the peace-loving Afghan civilian population. Pakistan will continue to defend its territory, sovereignty, and people.”
He urged Kabul to take “concrete measures” to dismantle these networks and prevent its territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan. “We expect the Taliban government to act responsibly and not allow its soil to be used to derail Pak-Afghan relations,” he said.
The statements came as cross-border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces continued over the weekend, following a series of unprovoked attacks by Afghan fighters along the border.
Security officials confirmed that Afghan forces had opened fire at multiple points, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, and Kurram, while sporadic incidents were also reported from Dir, Chitral, and Baramcha.
Pakistan’s response was described as “measured but decisive,” with the military targeting several militant hideouts and command centres inside Afghanistan.
According to security sources, dozens of Taliban fighters and Khawarij militants were killed in precision strikes that hit Taliban military installations and Daesh sanctuaries.
“The Taliban’s Manojaba battalion headquarters I and II were wiped out,” a senior security official said. “Durrani camps I and II, which served as launchpads for cross-border attacks, were also destroyed.”
The official confirmed that Pakistan seized at least 19 Afghan posts used to facilitate attacks across the border. Several Taliban tanks and vehicles were destroyed in the operation, including a major strike on the Ghaznali headquarters in the Nushki sector.
He said the Pakistani forces’ objective was to “eliminate the sources of terror, not escalate conflict,” but warned that the country would continue to respond “firmly and proportionately” to any future aggression.
The military’s use of drones, artillery, and heavy weaponry was part of a broader counterterrorism effort that targeted Daesh, TTP, and BLA-linked camps operating in coordination with Indian intelligence assets.
President Zardari reiterated that Pakistan’s defensive measures were legitimate and proportionate. “The state will never allow its sovereignty to be compromised,” he said, calling on Kabul to prevent both Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan elements from using Afghan territory for terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned Afghanistan’s aggression, lauding the Pakistan Army’s “effective and befitting response” under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.
“There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s defence,” the premier said, vowing that “every provocation will be met with a decisive and proportionate reply.”
The escalation has drawn concern from regional stakeholders, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran urging both countries to show restraint and resolve differences through dialogue.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, said Tehran was “deeply concerned” about the clashes and offered to mediate. “Iran is ready to help reduce tensions between the two neighbouring countries,” he said.
Diplomatic observers say the violence underscores the growing strain in Pak-Afghan relations, especially amid a spike in terror attacks inside Pakistan by groups like the TTP and BLA, both allegedly operating from Afghan sanctuaries.
Security officials have long maintained that India has been using Afghan soil to orchestrate terrorism inside Pakistan. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, recently said Pakistan had raised the issue with multiple countries, including the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE, both before and after the Doha agreement.
He added that following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a significant cache of modern American weaponry had fallen into the hands of terrorist outfits, strengthening their operational capacity.
“Pakistan will continue to engage the international community to expose the nexus between India and the Khawarij,” a senior intelligence official said. “But at the same time, it will not hesitate to defend its sovereignty.”
