New York – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan has won the war against India, and now we desire peace. Pakistan is ready to engage in comprehensive and result-oriented negotiations with India on all pending issues.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Antonio Guterres has led the United Nations under extremely challenging circumstances.
He said that our world today has become more complex than ever before; international laws are being openly violated, humanitarian crises are increasing, and terrorism still remains a major threat.
He said disinformation and fake news are undermining trust and belief. Climate change has become a threat to our survival. Today, multilateralism is not an option but a necessity of the time.
The Prime Minister stated that Pakistan’s foreign policy, in line with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, is based on peace, mutual respect, and cooperation. We believe in the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
He said that last year, I had warned from this very forum that Pakistan would give a decisive response to any aggression. Unprovoked aggression was carried out from the eastern border, and Pakistan gave a befitting response to Indian aggression.
The Prime Minister said India rejected our transparent and impartial offer for an international investigation into the Pulwama incident and tried to take political advantage of a human tragedy by attacking our cities and targeting innocent civilians.
He said that when our territorial sovereignty and national security were violated, our response was under Article 51 of the UN Charter in self-defense. Our brave armed forces, under the exceptional leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, carried out an operation with remarkable professionalism, bravery, and strategic wisdom.
He added that under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu, our falcons soared into the skies and stamped our response in the air, as a result of which seven Indian aircraft were turned into piles of wreckage.
‘Despite having the upper hand, Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire due to Trump’s intervention’
The Prime Minister said that despite the advantage, Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire due to the intervention of US President Donald Trump. President Trump’s efforts for peace helped prevent a war in South Asia. If he had not taken timely and decisive action, the consequences of a full-scale war would have been catastrophic.
He said that in recognition of the US President’s extraordinary efforts for peace in our region, Pakistan nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, and this is the least we could do to honor his love for peace.
Shehbaz Sharif said that we are grateful to our friends – China, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and the UN Secretary-General – for their diplomatic support to Pakistan at this sensitive time.
The Prime Minister said, we have won the war, and now we desire peace in our region. I want to reiterate at this forum that Pakistan is ready for comprehensive dialogue with India on all outstanding matters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed that South Asia needs “proactive leadership instead of provocative leadership.”
He said that attempts to unilaterally and illegally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty are not only against the provisions of the treaty itself but also violate the principles of international law.
He further stated that Pakistan has made it absolutely clear that we will vigorously and passionately defend our right to these waters for our 240 million people.
Expressing solidarity with the people of Occupied Kashmir, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan and its people stand with their Kashmiri brothers, and one day, India’s oppression and tyranny will completely end in the valley, and Kashmir will achieve its fundamental right to self-determination through a UN-supervised impartial plebiscite.
‘Israel is committing genocide in Gaza; such atrocities are not seen in history’
Drawing attention to Gaza, he said the plight of the Palestinian people is one of the most heart-wrenching tragedies of our time.
He said that this prolonged injustice is a stain on the global conscience and a collective moral failure. For nearly 80 years, the Palestinian people have bravely endured Israel’s tyrannical and brutal occupation of their land.
He said illegal settlers in the West Bank, without fear or accountability, are killing Palestinians daily, and no one is holding them accountable.
The Prime Minister further stated that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, targeting children and women, and committing such atrocities that are unseen in history. To achieve its nefarious goals, the Israeli leadership has launched a shameful campaign against innocent Palestinians, which will be remembered as one of the darkest chapters in history.
Shehbaz Sharif mentioned the martyrdom of 6-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was martyred while her family was evacuating from Gaza. Hind Rajab’s story has become one of the most horrifying tragedies of this war.
He said: “We all heard her trembling voice on that phone call – a call that little Hind made while struggling to survive during the Israeli attack.”
He said, can you imagine if that little girl, Hind Rajab, were our daughter? We failed to save her, and she will never forgive us – neither in this world nor in the hereafter.
A path to ceasefire in Gaza must be found
The Prime Minister said that the smallest coffins are the heaviest to carry. I know this because I carried the coffin of Arz-e-Abbas during the recent conflict with India. He was only six years old. Therefore, we cannot – and must not – fail the children of Gaza or any child anywhere in the world. We must find a path to ceasefire now.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a sovereign Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Jerusalem as its capital.
He said that Palestine can no longer remain shackled by Israel. It must be free, and it must be free with full commitment and full force.
He welcomed the recent recognition of the Palestinian state by several countries and urged others to do the same.
Referring to the meeting earlier this week between Trump and leaders of Muslim countries, he praised the US President’s timely initiative to convene the meeting on Gaza.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said: I was also part of this consultative process, and I hope and pray to Almighty Allah that this revives the hope for a ceasefire in the very near future.
He also condemned Israel’s recent attack on Doha, in which Hamas leaders were targeted, and expressed solidarity with Qatar.
‘We hope the Afghan government will act against terrorist groups’
Regarding Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said that peace in Afghanistan is essential for peace in the region. The Afghan government must take steps regarding human rights, especially women’s rights. We hope the Afghan government will act against terrorist groups and not allow its territory to be used against anyone.
He said that there should be no room for hatred. Hindutva and other ideologies of hatred from India are a threat to the entire world. The rising incidents of Islamophobia must also be curbed.
Joint action must be taken against climate change
The Prime Minister said that joint action must be taken against climate change. During the 2022 floods, Pakistan suffered the loss of many lives and $34 billion in damages. This year again, Pakistan is facing the effects of climate change.
He said that floods wreaked havoc in Pakistan, affecting thousands of villages, displacing millions of people, killing more than a thousand, and causing billions of dollars in damages, including the destruction of crops over thousands of acres. After that, I declared a climate emergency.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan contributes less than one percent to global warming, yet it is among the countries most affected by climate change.
He said that Pakistan is suffering greatly due to climate change. This is not justice. This is not equality. How can you expect a developing country that faces the worst climate conditions every year to bear this burden without taking loans?
Reforms and future vision
In his speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further said that we have introduced microeconomic reforms and are working to improve the tax system and promote investment. The Government of Pakistan has taken steps for digitalization. Initiatives like AI and crypto are the needs of the future.
He said that Pakistan supports China’s initiatives for global governance and that Pakistan will always raise its voice for peace, justice, and development.
