• Tells joint sitting of parliament war is ‘last option’; expresses ‘zero tolerance’ for foreign or domestic proxies sowing chaos
• Urges India to ‘shift from war theatres to meaningful negotiations’, reiterates support for Kashmir
• Condemns war on Iran, attacks on Gulf nations, urges return to normalcy
• Opposition disrupts presidential address, raises slogans against the US, for Imran’s release

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan continues to strike targets in Afghanistan, President Asif Ali Zardari has said Islamabad will not allow any entity — domestic or foreign — to use its neighbouring territory to “destabilise” the country even though it treats war as a “last option”.

The president made this statement at his 9th address to the joint session of parliament at a time when the entire region is embroiled in a bloody conflict, triggered by the US-Israel joint attack on Iran and the skirmishes between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban due to cross-border terrorism.

The Iran war also reverberated in parliament during the president’s speech, as the opposition lawmakers raised slogans against the United States, shouting ‘whoever is friends with America is a traitor’ and ‘attack on Iran is unacceptable’. The dig at the friendship with the US ostensibly is a reference to the US president’s fondness for the incumbent government and the army chief.

In his address to the joint session chaired by the National Assembly speaker and the Senate chairman, the president advised the neighbouring state to stop “being used by another country as a battlefield” to advance their ambitions.

“As a life-long advocate for peace, I would not recommend it. At the same time, I will also say that any aggressor should prepare for another humiliating defeat; make no mistake, we are ready for you. Move away from warfare to meaningful negotiation. That is the only path for regional security,” he said, adding that Pakistan had already shown both India and Afghanistan only a fraction of its capabilities.

The president also said that Pakistan would continue to give its fullest diplomatic and moral support to the just cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

President Zardari said India’s attempts to manipulate river flows and engage in what amounts to water aggression required careful, long-term policy planning. India’s illegal actions that placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance were plain and simple hydro-terrorism — a weaponisation of vital water flows to exert political leverage.

Iran, Gulf attacks

The president condemned the war waged on Iran and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, besides condoling the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

He also condemned the subsequent attacks launched on the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, calling for negotiated solutions to choose peace and restraint and save the region from a deepening crisis.

“The sooner stability returns to the region, the sooner the world can go back to the business of rebuilding lives and fractured trust. I urge the need to exercise maximum restraint, to uphold international law, and to respect the territorial integrity of all brotherly nations,” the president urged.

Provincial autonomy

Speaking about provincial autonomy, the president said a strong federation did not require centralisation but coordination. “Constitutional forums such as the Council of Common Interests must function effectively,” he said, adding that said issues relating to natural resources, fiscal distribution, energy coordination and water management must be resolved through consultation.

“A functioning and harmonious federation also requires an efficient and equitable distribution of resources. I look forward to a just and equitable National Finance Commission Award in the coming year,” he added.

The president also appreciated the government for “steering the economy out of the virtual collapse it faced in the spring of 2022”.

He added structural reform remained essential as transparency in taxation and expenditure was fundamental to trust.

“The tax base must be widened,” he urged.

Regarding climate change, he said climate justice remained a principle we will continue to advocate internationally, but it must be visible at home too.

Opposition protest

As he spoke, the opposition raised slogans against the government and for the release of its imprisoned leader Imran Khan. As the president started his speech, opposition members stood up and chanted slogans, like “go Zardari go”. They also came up to the speaker’s desk to disrupt the speech by raising loud slogans.

Before the start of the address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Zardari briefly met at the Parliament House.

As the session started, the opposition members led by NA Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai followed President Zardari into the hall, and were carrying the photos of Imran Khan which they placed on benches facing the speaker.

They demanded the release of Imran Khan in slogans. Due to the ruckus created by the opposition, the PM and other treasury members used headphones to hear the president’s speech.

As the president continued to speak, the Senate opposition leader, Raja Nasir Abbas, stood up in his chair and started delivering his own address, which, however, was inaudible.

The assembly hall was jampacked during the session, as a large number of diplomats, bureaucrats and members of provincial assemblies were present to listen to the address.

The Punjab and Balochistan chief ministers and the KP, Sindh, and Punjab governors were also present in the gallery besides other dignitaries.

When Prime Minister Shehbaz reached the House, he first met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who was sitting with his sister and first lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026