BEIJING, Feb 23 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent statement underscores the country’s unwavering resolve in combating cross-border terrorism. His emphasis on Pakistan’s inherent right to self-defense resonates deeply, as the nation has long endured the scourge of terrorist attacks emanating from Afghan soil.
These views were expressed by Prof Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute, a non-governmental Chinese think-tank on diplomacy and international studies based in Beijing.
Prof Cheng said that President Zardari’s reference to the UN Security Council report is particularly compelling, as it provides international validation for Pakistan’s position. The report confirms that numerous terrorist organizations operate freely in Afghanistan, exposing the failure of the Afghan Taliban regime to uphold their commitments under the Doha Accord. This inaction, coupled with the Afghan Taliban’s creation of a pre-9/11-style security environment, has left Pakistan with few options but to take matters into its own hands after repeated warnings went unheeded.
As President Zardari highlighted, Pakistan’s restraint has been noteworthy. For a long time, the country limited its responses to terrorist hideouts in border areas, demonstrating its commitment to regional peace. Yet his warning that those planning violence will not remain beyond reach signals a shift: Pakistan will no longer tolerate impunity for those fueling bloodshed within its borders. This stance is justified by the surge in terrorist attacks over the past two years and recent deadly strikes targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians, he added.
He said that President Zardari’s reaffirmation of Pakistan’s desire for peaceful, neighborly relations adds balance to his firm message. Peace, he rightly argues, cannot coexist with inaction against terrorism.
As regional tensions simmer following recent cross-border airstrikes, the international community should urge the Afghan Taliban regime to fulfill its obligations. Only through credible counter-terrorism measures can Afghanistan become a source of stability, allowing Pakistan and its other neighbors to pursue cooperative development.
In the end, Pakistan’s actions are not a quest for conflict, but a fight to protect its people — a right no nation can afford to surrender, he added.