- Pakistan to firmly respond to any act of aggression: PM.
- Peace should not be mistaken for weakness, says Zardari.
- ‘Armed forces fully equipped, trained, prepared for threats.’
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have issued strong statements reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to defend its sovereignty, territory, and people in the wake of intensified cross-border confrontations with Afghan Taliban forces.
The remarks from the country’s top leadership come amid clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, as Pakistani forces have conducted multiple counter-strikes in response to unprovoked attacks by Afghan Taliban forces.
Security sources said the strikes have targeted militant positions, key command posts, and ammunition depots, while inflicting heavy losses on the insurgents.
In a statement issued on Friday, PM Shehbaz said there would be no compromise on the country’s defence, and every act of aggression would be met with a firm and befitting response. He emphasised that the people and the Armed Forces of Pakistan remain fully prepared to protect the nation’s security and territorial integrity.
Highlighting the professional capabilities of the military, the Prime Minister noted that under the leadership of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the armed forces are executing their duties with national spirit.
Equipped with advanced training and an effective defensive strategy, they are capable of addressing both internal and external threats, he said.
“Pakistan has consistently promoted peace, but our integrity will never be compromised,” Shehbaz Sharif added. “The armed forces will resolutely confront any aggression, and the entire nation stands behind them.”
President Zardari, in a social media message, echoed sentiments expressed by the premier, saying Pakistan will not compromise on peace or territorial integrity.
He warned that anyone who mistakes Pakistan’s pursuit of peace for weakness will face a strong, comprehensive, and decisive response, stressing that no one would be beyond the reach of the nation’s armed forces.
Asif says Taliban turned Afghanistan into India’s proxy
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan had long hoped that peace would follow NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, expecting the Taliban to focus on the welfare of Afghan citizens and regional stability.
Instead, the Taliban government turned Afghanistan into a “proxy of India,” providing a base for global terrorists, denying fundamental rights to the people, and stripping women of the rights Islam guarantees them, he stressed.
He highlighted Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic and direct efforts to stabilise the region, stressing that the country had been a consistent supporter of Afghan welfare, hosting over five million Afghan refugees for decades.
“Millions of Afghan citizens continue to earn their livelihoods in Pakistan today,” he added.
The minister said Pakistan’s patience had reached its limit. “Our forces are now delivering a decisive response,” he said.
“This is open confrontation — the army is not coming from across the sea. We are your neighbours and know your limits,” he added.
He also underlined that no compromise would be made on national security, warning that Pakistan would continue to respond firmly to aggression.
Aggression against civilians intolerable: Naqvi
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the Afghan Taliban’s attempt to target civilian populations, describing it as a “horrific miscalculation” that would carry serious consequences.
He said that the attack, carried out under the cover of night, was cowardly and unacceptable, but Pakistan’s armed forces delivered a firm and decisive response. The minister praised the military’s professionalism, readiness, and vigilance in defending the country, emphasising that the nation stands firmly alongside its troops.
Naqvi warned that the Taliban’s aggression was intolerable, and Pakistan would not allow any threat to its security or civilians. He reiterated that attempts to harm innocent populations would not succeed, and the perpetrators would face severe repercussions.
