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President Asif Ali Zardari. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari warned on Sunday that Afghanistan under Taliban rule had fallen into conditions “similar or worse than before 9/11”, accusing neighboring countries including India of aiding terrorist groups following recent attacks in Islamabad and Balochistan.
The President thanked world leaders and international organizations for expressing solidarity with Pakistan following Friday’s bomb attack on an imambargah in the federal capital that killed dozens of people as well as coordinated assaults in several towns in Balochistan.
In a statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat, Zardari said terrorist organizations operating from Afghan soil pose serious threats to regional and global peace, calling for collective international action to counter militancy and violent ideology.
“Pakistan is strongly opposed to the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime has created conditions similar to or worse than before 9/11, when terrorist organizations posed threats to world peace and resulted in the tragedy of 9/11,” he said in the statement.
He said Pakistan had always maintained that terrorism could not be fought by any single country in isolation, stressing that when terrorist groups were given space, facilitation or impunity across national borders, the consequences were borne by innocent civilians.
In this context, the President said some neighboring countries had “unfortunately become partners in crime” by allowing terrorist elements to operate against Pakistan from their territory, while some were providing direct financial support as well as technical and military assistance.
“This is a reality that has shaped regional developments in recent years,” he said. He also accused Pakistan’s eastern neighbor of aiding the Taliban regime and threatening not only Pakistan but also regional and world peace.
The President expressed gratitude to world leaders, governments and international organizations for their support to Pakistan during this moment of national mourning. “Pakistan is touched by this strong and sincere outpouring of support and solidarity,” he said.
President Zardari stressed that the messages of sympathy brought comfort to the people of Pakistan and strength to the families who were mourning their loved ones. He said the international response reaffirmed that the fight against terrorism and the violent ideology that drives it was a shared global responsibility and a common struggle for all nations.
He reiterated Pakistan’s determination to continue working with its international partners to achieve peace and stability and decisively end terrorism in all its forms. He also highlighted Islamabad’s long-standing position that Afghan territory has been repeatedly used by terrorist groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan, targeting both civilians and security personnel.
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, carried out by al-Qaeda through coordinated hijackings, cost nearly 3,000 lives and reshaped global security policies, a comparison invoked by Zardari to highlight what he described as the growing dangers emanating from Afghanistan.
As investigations into the Islamabad attack continue, authorities say security has been stepped up in major cities, while intelligence agencies pursue leads related to cross-border facilitation.
Zardari said the solidarity shown by the international community had strengthened Pakistan’s resolve to confront terrorism, adding that the country remained deeply grateful for the compassion shown during this difficult hour.
(WITH APPLICATION INPUTS)
