Asif Ali Zardari Claims India Preparing for War, Urges Return to Talks

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has accused India of preparing for another conflict and urged New Delhi to return to dialogue, warning that escalation would not serve regional peace.

Addressing a joint session of Pakistan’s Parliament, Zardari said India’s leadership appeared to be gearing up for war and cautioned against further confrontation. “India’s leaders say they are preparing for another war. As a lifelong advocate of regional peace, I would not recommend it,” he said during his speech, which was marked by interruptions from opposition lawmakers.

Calling for diplomacy over conflict, Zardari added that meaningful negotiations were the only path toward long-term regional stability. “My message is to move away from the war theatre to meaningful negotiation tables,” he said.

Criticism Over Indus Waters Treaty Move

The Pakistani president also criticised India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, describing the move as “hydro-terrorism” and accusing New Delhi of using water flows for political leverage.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, governs the sharing of river waters between the two countries and has long been considered a rare example of sustained cooperation despite strained relations. Zardari argued that disrupting the agreement would further damage bilateral ties and regional trust.

He reiterated Pakistan’s diplomatic and moral support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that lasting peace in South Asia would remain difficult without resolving the issue.

Concerns Over Afghanistan and Terror Threats

Turning to regional security, Zardari referred to a recent United Nations report highlighting the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan. He warned that failure to address cross-border militant activity could destabilise the region further.

He accused Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban administration of not fulfilling commitments made under the Doha agreement to prevent extremist groups from operating from Afghan territory. “The soil of Pakistan is sacred. We will not allow any entity, domestic or foreign, to destabilise our peace,” he said.

Wider Regional Issues

Zardari also commented on the evolving Middle East conflict, expressing condolences over the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He condemned attacks targeting Gulf nations and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.

The address marked Zardari’s ninth speech to a joint session of Parliament as president and took place amid political tensions, with opposition members from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf raising slogans during the proceedings.

The remarks come at a time of heightened regional sensitivity, with both diplomatic and security developments unfolding across South Asia and the broader Middle East.