On the US role in Afghanistan, he said "what the US does in Afghanistan is its own business. It is a sovereign state." Referring to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Zardari said "Karzai and myself are friends." When pointed out that he was known as 'Mr 10 per cent' for alleged involvement in corruption, he said it was a cliché "created by the opposition and they tried me for 11 and a half years (the time he served in jail without being sentenced). I think a man should be judged by the fact he has walked the fire and come out without a spot."

He also renewed a call for the US to sell aerial drones to the Pakistan military in place of mounting cross-border attacks. "My position is that I have always asked for possession of the drone; I want the Pakistani flag on it." On assassination of his wife and former Premier Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said that after the incident "the people in the street were calling for blood and we went for a democratic offensive." "I wish (former President Perrvez) Musharraf had looked after my wife" by providing her adequate security, he said.