ISLAMABAD, Thursday, May 1, 2025 (WNP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday to review the prevailing security situation, with particular focus on heightened tensions with India following the recent Pahalgam attack.

During the high-level consultation, the two leaders expressed serious concern over India’s increasingly hostile posture and inflammatory rhetoric, warning that such provocations threatened regional peace and stability. They reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, vowing a firm response to any act of aggression.

“The Pakistani nation stands united behind its Armed Forces, which are fully capable of defending the motherland against any threat,” the leaders stated.

The meeting also condemned the Indian leadership for leveling unsubstantiated accusations over the Pahalgam incident without conducting any investigation. Emphasizing Pakistan’s own long-standing struggle against terrorism, the leaders noted the country’s sacrifices over the past two decades, both in terms of human lives and economic loss.

They called on the international community to take serious notice of India’s alleged involvement in sponsoring cross-border terrorism, including financing, training, and deploying militants to destabilize Pakistan.

President Zardari lauded the government’s measured and responsible response to India’s accusations, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding its core national interests through all necessary means.

The two leaders also reiterated the urgent need to implement United Nations Security Council resolutions to enable the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination — a step they said was vital for achieving sustainable peace in the region.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also inquired after President Zardari’s health, following his recent recovery from COVID-19.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, also attended the meeting.