ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed United Nations report highlighting serious concerns over India’s military actions against Pakistan in May and its broader conduct affecting global peace and stability.
He stated the report supports Pakistan’s stance that unilateral cross-border military actions violate the UN Charter and Pakistan’s sovereignty. The findings regarding civilian casualties, damage to populated areas and religious sites, and heightened risks of escalation were particularly troubling.
The President appreciated the report’s remarks on India’s suspension of its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty, its aggressive behavior, and resulting civilian losses. He reiterated that the treaty, a key to regional stability, remains binding, and bypassing dispute-resolution mechanisms violates Pakistan’s water rights and escalates human rights concerns.
Zardari noted the international community’s growing recognition of India’s actions as indicative of a rogue state, including transnational violence, intimidation, and normalization of force over diplomacy. He emphasized that such behavior undermines global norms and cannot continue unchecked.
The report, he added, reaffirms that international law does not permit unilateral military action under the guise of counter-terrorism. It also validates Pakistan’s right to self-defense against such violations.
He echoed UN experts’ calls for transparency, compensation for civilian damage, adherence to treaties, and peaceful dialogue, particularly regarding Jammu and Kashmir. Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace, respect for international law, and efforts to safeguard its sovereignty through diplomatic and legal channels.
