Pakistan PM, President meet amid tension with India, vow ‘befitting' response to any aggression

Tensions rise between India and Pakistan after terrorist attack, leaders vow to respond to aggression in a befitting manner.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met on Thursday (May 1, 2025) to discuss the security situation and vowed to respond to "any act of aggression in a befitting manner”.

The two met for the first time as tensions rose between India and Pakistan after terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.

According to an official statement, they said that Pakistan would never compromise on its territorial integrity and sovereignty and would “respond to any act of aggression in a befitting manner”.

“Pakistani nation is united and stands behind its armed forces, who are capable of responding to any threat or aggression,” the leaders said.

Separately, Mr. Sharif also had a telephonic conversation with the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Radio Pakistan reported.

During the conversation, he reiterated his offer of cooperation for a "transparent" investigation into the terror attack.

A day after the attack, India announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the massacre.