Pak President alleges India readying for ‘another war’, urges return to negotiations

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday claimed that India was preparing for “another war” and urged New Delhi to step back from confrontation and resume dialogue. Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament amid opposition protests, Zardari said India’s leaders appeared to be readying for conflict but stressed that negotiations were the only viable path to regional security. “My message to them is to move away from the war theatre to meaningful negotiation tables,” he said.

A video of his remarks went viral on social media. (Taaza TV couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the clip).

His remarks come months after heightened military tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure across the border. The four-day military standoff in May 2025 saw cross-border strikes and heightened security measures along the Line of Control and International Border.

Zardari also criticised India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, describing it as “plain and simple hydro-terrorism” and accusing New Delhi of weaponising water flows for political leverage. He reiterated that Islamabad remains open to talks while maintaining diplomatic and moral support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that lasting peace in South Asia depends on resolving the Kashmir issue.

Turning to Afghanistan, Zardari cited concerns about militant activity and urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used for cross-border attacks. He accused Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban government of failing to honour commitments under the Doha agreement and called on it to dismantle militant groups operating from Afghan soil.

The president also addressed broader regional developments, condemning ongoing conflicts in West Asia and expressing condolences over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He denounced attacks targeting Gulf nations and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.