Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari has called on New Delhi to return to the “negotiation tables.”
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has urged India to return to the “negotiating tables,” while stating that New Delhi and Kabul have only witnessed a “fraction” of Islamabad’s military capabilities.
Speaking to a joint session of Pakistan’s parliament on Monday, Zardari emphasized that war is a last resort and that he has consistently been a “lifelong advocate” for regional peace.
“For us, war is always the last option,” Zardari stated. “No state accepts serial attacks on its soil… We have let both India and Afghanistan see a fraction of our capabilities.”
Pakistan and India experienced a four-day military confrontation last May following a terrorist attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that resulted in 26 fatalities, primarily tourists.
Islamabad and Kabul have engaged in periodic exchanges of fire since October of 2025.
Pakistan initiated significant artillery fire and airstrikes against its western neighbor early on Friday, in retaliation for Afghan Taliban forces killing two soldiers and firing on Pakistani border positions the previous day.
Pakistan declared victory in its most recent engagement, asserting that its western neighbor suffered 1,000 casualties in the cross-border escalation last week.
“This was not just a military victory; it was an expression of our national resolve in crisis,” Zardari remarked.
The Pakistani president also expressed his desire for peace with India, adding, “Make no mistake. We are ready for you. My message to them is to move away from war theatres to meaningful negotiating tables because that is the only path for regional security… India must listen to us attentively: Pakistan will continue to give its fullest diplomatic and moral support to the just cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Pakistan lays claim to the entirety of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, while administering approximately 30% of its territory. Around 55% is under Indian administration, with the remainder controlled by China.