Islamabad/Peshawar, December 16, 2025: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reiterated the government’s unwavering resolve to eradicate terrorism, stressing that there would be no leniency for terrorists or their facilitators.
In a message issued on the 11th anniversary of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar attack, President Zardari said Pakistan’s commitment to defeating terrorism was absolute and uncompromising.
“There can be no negotiations with those who raise arms against the state or target our children,” the president said, adding that the memory of the APS martyrs continued to strengthen the nation’s resolve. “Pakistan will never allow the enemies of peace to succeed.”
Recalling the December 16, 2014 attack, President Zardari said the nation was remembering the innocent children and staff of APS whose lives were lost in one of the most brutal terrorist attacks in the country’s history. Their sacrifice, he said, remained a solemn reminder of the heavy price Pakistan had paid in its fight against terrorism.
“We stand with the families who continue to bear this pain with courage. The nation will always honour the resilience of the APS families who transformed their grief into strength for Pakistan,” he added.
The president also strongly condemned what he described as Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, saying evidence of efforts to destabilise the country was well documented. “Pakistan will continue to expose these hostile activities and will defend its people with full resolve,” the President Secretariat Press Wing quoted him as saying.
Paying tribute to the security forces, law enforcement agencies and intelligence services, President Zardari said their efforts had prevented many similar tragedies. He vowed that the state would pursue every terrorist and facilitator until justice was served.
“Let me take this opportunity to warn the apologists, facilitators and supporters of terrorists that the people and the armed forces of Pakistan shall not spare them, no matter what political, ideological or fake religious garb they try to shroud themselves in,” he said.
PM reaffirms zero-tolerance policy
In a separate message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the martyrs of the APS Peshawar tragedy and reaffirmed his government’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
The prime minister said the state would continue “relentless and full-force” anti-terror operations until the complete elimination of terrorism and extremism from the country.
“The great sacrifices rendered for Pakistan’s bright future will never go in vain as the state, security institutions and the people stand united and determined,” he said.
Describing the APS attack as a heart-wrenching ordeal for the entire nation, the prime minister said the tragedy had deeply saddened Pakistanis but failed to break their resolve.
“The sacrifices of the innocent children, teachers and staff of APS will always remain etched in the national conscience, and the elimination of terrorism from the country will be the only meaningful justice for this heinous tragedy,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the entire nation shared the grief of the bereaved families and saluted their patience and resilience. He noted that as Pakistan once again faced the threat of terrorism, with security personnel and civilians being targeted in different parts of the country, the APS tragedy served as a stark reminder that the struggle against terrorism was not yet over.
He prayed for the highest ranks in paradise for the martyrs of the anti-terror war and patience and strength for their families.
