President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday urged India to shift from confrontation to meaningful negotiations, warning that Pakistan was fully prepared to defend itself if provoked.
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Addressing a joint sitting of parliament at the start of the new parliamentary year, Zardari described war as a last resort and called dialogue the only viable path to regional peace. “Make no mistake. We are ready for you,” he said, cautioning that any aggression would be met decisively. He reiterated Pakistan’s continued diplomatic and moral support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Calling the war a last resort, President @AAliZardari in his annual address to the joint session of the parliament today, urged the India and Afghanistan to shift from war theatres to meaningful negotiations or face another humiliating defeat.
Read More: https://t.co/Aj0NlG7nnK pic.twitter.com/Nhyka0qYeP
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) March 2, 2026
The session, co-chaired by Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, lawmakers, diplomats and other dignitaries. Opposition members staged protests during the address.
Zardari condemned recent regional hostilities, including attacks on Iran and subsequent strikes affecting Gulf states, urging restraint and adherence to international law. He also expressed condolences over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Referring to recent military operations, including Marka-e-Haq and Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, the president said Pakistan had exercised restraint but acted decisively in self-defence against cross-border threats. He warned that neither India nor Afghanistan should mistake Pakistan’s restraint for weakness.
On foreign policy, Zardari highlighted strengthening ties with the United States and China, noting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would further boost infrastructure and connectivity. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty, condemning any unilateral actions affecting water flows.
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Concluding his address, Zardari called for unity, economic reform, poverty alleviation and the elimination of terrorism, stressing that sovereignty and regional stability must remain national priorities.