News Desk
BEIJING: President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent statement underscores Pakistan’s firm resolve to combat cross-border terrorism, said Prof Cheng Xizhong, senior research fellow at the Charhar Institute, a Beijing-based non-governmental think-tank on diplomacy and international studies.
Prof Cheng noted that the president’s emphasis on Pakistan’s inherent right to self-defence resonates deeply, given the country’s long-standing exposure to terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil. He described President Zardari’s reference to the UN Security Council report as particularly significant, providing international validation for Pakistan’s position.
The report, Prof Cheng Xizhong said, confirms that numerous terrorist organizations operate freely in Afghanistan, highlighting the Afghan Taliban regime’s failure to uphold commitments under the Doha Accord. This inaction, combined with a security environment reminiscent of pre-9/11 Afghanistan, has left Pakistan with few options after repeated warnings went unheeded.
“The president’s emphasis on restraint has been noteworthy,” Prof Cheng said. Pakistan, he added, long limited its responses to terrorist hideouts in border areas, demonstrating a commitment to regional peace. Yet Zardari’s warning that those planning violence will not remain beyond reach signals a shift: the country will no longer tolerate impunity for those fueling bloodshed within its borders.
The stance, Prof Cheng said, is justified by a surge in terrorist attacks over the past two years, including recent deadly strikes targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians. He also highlighted that Zardari’s reaffirmation of Pakistan’s desire for peaceful, neighborly relations adds balance to his firm message. “Peace cannot coexist with inaction against terrorism,” he said.
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