Pakistan will make no compromise on peace, stability, regional integrity: President

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said that Pakistan will make no compromise on peace, stability, and regional integrity and added that no one should have the misconception that Pakistan can be intimidated by pressure.

In a statement regarding the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions, President Zardari said that today Pakistani nation and its armed forces stand like a wall to protect the country’s integrity and borders.

He emphasized that no one should have the misconception that Pakistan can be intimidated by pressure or threats. The armed forces’ response capabilities are comprehensive, timely, and decisive, and they are fully capable of thwarting the enemy’s malicious designs.

President Zardari said that Pakistan does not seek conflict, but anyone who perceives Pakistan’s desire for peace as weakness will face a strong response. Over the past five years, the ungrateful Taliban regime has been engaged in terrorist attacks across Pakistan through their TTP operatives, targeting the country that helped them.

He said that all diplomatic efforts and attempts by brotherly countries to bring this criminal group to the right path have failed. Today, this criminal and cowardly group has crossed the international border and challenged Pakistan’s sovereignty. Pakistan, as a responsible state, used diplomatic channels and sought assistance from friendly countries to bring this group back to moderation, but no positive progress was achieved.

President Zardari added that he had issued a clear and stern warning to the Taliban regime after the February 8 suicide attack at a mosque in Islamabad, and again five days ago on February 22, he sent the same firm message to this group.

The President further stated that Pakistan knows well where the planners, facilitators, and sponsors of violence are located, and if the bloodshed continues, no responsible element will remain beyond reach.