India Preparing For 'Another War': Pakistan President Zardari

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has claimed that India is "preparing for another war," even as he publicly called for dialogue to ensure regional stability.

His statement comes nearly a year after the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam where 26 civilians were killed, triggering New Delhi to launch Operation Sindoor to hit the terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan.

Addressing Pakistan's parliament, Zardari struck a defiant tone, warning India against what he described as any potential "miscalculation" regarding Pakistan's military capability. "Make no mistake, we are ready for you," he declared, adding that any fresh act of aggression would invite a "firm reply", according to a report in News18.

However, the Pakistani President also attempted to balance his rhetoric with a call for diplomacy. In the same address, he urged India to step away from what he termed "war theatres" and instead engage in "meaningful negotiating tables," stressing that dialogue remains the only viable path to long-term regional security. Despite the warning-laced language, Zardari emphasised that peaceful negotiations were essential to prevent further instability in South Asia.

At the same time, he reiterated Pakistan's long-standing position on Jammu and Kashmir. Referring to what he called the "just cause" of the people of the region, Zardari said India must "listen to us attentively." He vowed that Pakistan would continue to extend its "fullest diplomatic and moral support" to Jammu and Kashmir.

The renewed war of words comes amid escalating tensions elsewhere in the region. On Monday, Afghanistan and Pakistan confirmed that their forces had targeted each other's positions along their shared border, as clashes entered a fifth consecutive day. The violence marks one of the most intense confrontations in years between the two neighbours, who share a 2,600-km frontier.

The conflict reportedly began after Afghanistan's Taliban rulers launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistani installations. Kabul said the action was in response to Pakistan targeting militant hideouts inside Afghan territory. Pakistan, in turn, carried out air-to-ground missile strikes using fighter jets against Taliban military positions and, for the first time, directly targeted Afghanistan's government installations, accusing Kabul of sheltering militants seeking to destabilise Islamabad.