After months of military conflict between India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has claimed that New Delhi is “preparing for another war”.
Speaking during a joint session of Parliament, the Pakistani leader claimed that India is preparing for another war with Islamabad. After making this claim, Zardari urged for peaceful negotiations and talks with New Delhi.
“My message to them (India) is to move away from the theater of war to meaningful negotiating tables, because this is the only path to regional security,” he reportedly said in a speech before a joint session of Parliament amid uproar among opposition members.
A video clip of his statements circulated on social media. (HT was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the clip.)
India and Pakistan engaged in a four-day military standoff in May 2025 after India launched a military strike under “Operation Sindoor” targeting terrorist sites and camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Pakistani military responded with drone strikes, leading India to impose a power outage along the Line of Control and the international border.
India launched Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. The Indian government blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group – the Resistance Front – for the attack that killed 26 tourists.
Pakistan accuses India of causing the conflict with Kabul
Along with India, the Pakistani president also called on Afghanistan to hold negotiations amid the ongoing conflict with the Taliban.
Read also | Columns of smoke and fire: Pakistani strikes on Kabul caught on camera amid new escalation | He watches
According to a report by L Arab NewsZardari once again accused Afghanistan of acting as an agent of India.
“Stop using another country as a battleground for their ambitions,” he said.
India has repeatedly denied any involvement in Afghanistan. During the 2025 clashes, the Foreign Ministry denied Pakistan’s accusations.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said: “Three things are clear. First, Pakistan hosts terrorist organizations and sponsors terrorist activities. Second, it is a long-standing practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbors for its internal failures. Third, Pakistan is angry about Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its territory.”
After renewed strikes last month, India condemned the Pakistani attack on Kabul during the holy month of Ramadan.
“India strongly condemns the Pakistani air strikes on Afghan soil that resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan. It is another attempt by Pakistan to justify its internal failures,” Jaiswal said during a weekly press conference.
