ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan’s tolerance for cross-border terrorism has reached its limits and warned that those responsible for orchestrating violence would not remain beyond the country’s reach.
In a statement issued from Islamabad, the president said Pakistan was exercising its inherent right to self-defence in response to security threats.
He stated that despite repeated international warnings, militant groups had continued to find space to operate. He expressed concern over the security situation in Afghanistan, saying conditions had become increasingly uncertain.
The president referred to recent United Nations assessments which, he said, confirmed the presence of multiple armed groups operating from Afghan territory. These include Daesh-Khorasan and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), among others.
He said Pakistan had shown restraint for an extended period and had limited its responses geographically. However, he stressed that those planning acts of violence against Pakistan would not remain beyond reach.
President Zardari added that Pakistan seeks sustainable peace and stability in the region but emphasized that meaningful action against terrorism was essential for lasting security.
His remarks come a day after Pakistani authorities confirmed security operations targeting militant hideouts across Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost provinces.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said initial reports indicated that approximately 70 militants were killed during the operation. According to officials, several of those targeted were linked to banned militant organizations.
Afghan authorities have not immediately issued a detailed response to the latest remarks.
