President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday alleged some of Pakistan’s neighboring countries are providing direct financing and technical support to terrorist groups operating against the country.
In a statement thanking global leaders for expressing solidarity with Islamabad following a bombing on an imambargah that left at least 33 people martyred and dozens injured, he reiterated the national stance that no single country can confront terrorism in isolation.
On Friday, a suicide bomber opened fire on, and detonated himself, at the entrance of an imambargah in Islamabad. In response, several foreign states have issued statements of condemnation and offered their support for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. According to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, authorities have arrested the attack’s mastermind, adding he belongs to the outlawed Daesh.
In his statement, President Zardari said Pakistan’s experience proves that granting any space to terrorist groups, or facilitating them, risks consequences for innocent civilians all over the world. He lamented that “certain neighboring countries” had helped terrorist groups by allowing them to operate on their own against Pakistan. In a direct reference to the Afghan Taliban regime, he criticized it for failing to prevent terror groups from launching attacks against security personnel and civilians inside Pakistan.
The president alleged the Taliban regime had worsened Afghanistan’s situation from its pre-9/11 position. He also said Pakistan’s eastern neighbor—India—is assisting the Afghan Taliban regime and threatening not only Islamabad, but also regional and global peace.
The strong and sincere outpouring of support and solidarity from world leaders, governments and international organizations humbles Pakistan, he said. President Zardari concluded his statement by noting that the messages of sympathy and solidarity had brought comfort to the people of Pakistan and strength to the mourning families. He said the messages reaffirmed that the fight against terrorism was a shared global responsibility and a common struggle for all.