Pakistan President Zardari claims India preparing for another war, urges talks

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday accused India of preparing for another conflict and urged New Delhi to step back from what he called a theatre of war and return to negotiations.

Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament amid opposition protests, Zardari said, "India’s leaders say they are preparing for another war. As a lifelong advocate of regional peace, I would not recommend it."

He added that Islamabad remains open to talks.

"My message to them (India) is to move away from the war theatre to meaningful negotiation tables, because that is the only path for regional security," he said.

Zardari also criticised India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it plain and simple hydro-terrorism and accusing New Delhi of weaponising water flows for political leverage.

He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to extend diplomatic and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying lasting peace in South Asia would remain elusive until the Kashmir issue is resolved.

WARNING ON TERROR THREATS FROM AFGHANISTAN

Zardari also turned his focus westward, citing a recent United Nations report warning about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

"This report warns that any other country could fall victim to another catastrophic attack if the issue is ignored," he said.

He said Pakistan had exhausted diplomatic channels to prevent military escalation over cross-border militant activity.

"Let me be clear: the soil of Pakistan is sacred. We will not allow any entity, domestic or foreign, to use neighbouring territory to destabilise our peace," he said.

Zardari accused Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban government of failing to honour commitments made under the Doha agreement to prevent militant groups from operating from Afghan soil. He urged Kabul to dismantle such groups and not allow Afghanistan to become a battleground for the ambitions of others.

REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CONCERNS

Zardari condemned the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and expressed condolences over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He denounced attacks targeting Gulf nations including the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Zardari also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

Monday’s speech marked Zardari’s ninth address to a joint session of Parliament as president. His remarks were repeatedly interrupted by Opposition members belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who chanted slogans demanding the release of their jailed leader and the country's former prime minister, Imran Khan.

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(With inputs from agencies)