India should be thankful; we could have downed more aircraft, says President Zardari

GARI KHUDA BAKSH (Web Desk) —  President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said India should be grateful that Pakistan exercised restraint during the recent hostilities, asserting that the country had the capability to shoot down more Indian aircraft if it wanted to.

Addressing a public gathering in Gari Khuda Baksh on the death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the president said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had now realised that Pakistan knew how to defend itself. “If war is imposed on us again, we are ready,” he said.

President Zardari remarked that a country which claims to be one of the world’s largest economies was unable to sustain a conflict for more than four days. He reiterated that Pakistan had shown restraint, adding that India should be thankful “otherwise we could have shot down all their aircraft”.

Referring to the significance of the day, the president said it marked both the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto and the moment when Pakistan was saved through the slogan of “Pakistan khappay”. He said the slogan belonged to Benazir Bhutto and warned that anyone casting an “evil eye” on Pakistan should remember that the country had its leadership, the Pakistan Peoples Party and its supporters to defend it.

He said that while India might be a major power, it could not match the resolve of Pakistan’s leadership and armed forces. “No matter how big a power India claims to be, it cannot produce the courage shown by Pakistan’s president, prime minister and field marshal,” he said.

Recalling the start of the conflict in May, President Zardari said a military secretary had advised him to move to a bunker. “I told him that leaders do not die in bunkers, they die in the field,” he said.

The president also criticised a former ruler, without naming him, for damaging Pakistan’s economy and isolating the country diplomatically. He said Pakistan’s international standing had since improved, claiming that even former US president Donald Trump had praised Pakistan’s field marshal.

Concluding his address, President Zardari said Pakistan did not seek conflict but would not hesitate to defend itself if provoked. “If our motherland ever needs us, we are ready to sacrifice our lives and wealth. We do not want to fight, but if someone grabs us by the collar, we will respond forcefully,” he said.