Both said the State of Pakistan would not compromise on its peace, stability and territorial integrity
President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discuss political, security and economic situation during a meeting at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. Photo: Express
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said there would be no compromise on the defence of the country and that every aggression would be met with a befitting response, according to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan.
In separate statements, they said the State of Pakistan would not compromise on its peace, stability and territorial integrity.
The president said no one should have the misconception that Pakistan would be coerced by pressure or intimidation. He said the nation and the armed forces stood “like a rock wall” to protect the integrity of the motherland and its borders.
He said the armed forces’ response capability was comprehensive, timely, and decisive, and that they had the capacity to uproot the enemy’s evil intentions.
Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan did not want confrontation, but warned that if anyone considered Pakistan’s peace as weakness, they would face a strong response.
He said that for the last five years, the “ungrateful Taliban regime” had been engaged in terrorist acts against Pakistan through TTP terrorists.
Read: Afghan Taliban suffer ‘heavy losses’ as Pakistani military launches ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’
He said diplomatic efforts and the involvement of brotherly countries had failed to bring the “criminal gang” to what he described as the correct path.
The president said the group had crossed the international border and challenged the integrity of Pakistan.
He said Pakistan, as a responsible state, had adopted diplomatic channels and made serious efforts to bring the group to the path of moderation with the help of brotherly countries, but no positive progress had been made.
The prime minister said the people and the armed forces were always ready to protect the country’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the armed forces were committed to not allowing any threat to the peace and security of the country and were fully capable of defeating aggressive designs.
Shehbaz Sharif said that under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the armed forces were performing their duties with national spirit. He said the armed forces were equipped with professional capabilities, quality training and an effective defensive strategy, and were fully capable of dealing with any internal or external challenge.
The prime minister said Pakistan had always promoted peace, but made clear that the country’s integrity would not be compromised and that the armed forces would resolutely confront any aggression. He said the entire nation stood by the armed forces.
Pakistani security forces launched “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq,” carrying out air and ground strikes against Afghan Taliban positions in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia and Nangarhar after what officials described as unprovoked cross-border aggression. According to security sources and Prime Minister’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi, at least 133 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded, while 27 posts were destroyed and nine captured.
The operation targeted major militant infrastructure, including two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, ammunition depots and a logistics base, with officials claiming more than 80 tanks, artillery pieces and armoured vehicles were also destroyed. Pakistani troops additionally took control of five Afghan posts in the Paktia region opposite South Waziristan.
The strikes were a response to Taliban firing and drone attempts along multiple sectors of the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, including Torkham, Bajaur, Mohmand and Kurram. Two Pakistani soldiers were martyred and three injured during the clashes. The government described the military action as a “strong and decisive response,” while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan would continue to thwart any aggression and safeguard its territorial integrity.
