From Water to Gaza: What PM Shehbaz Said at the UN
News Desk
NEW YORK: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif used his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to outline Pakistan’s positions on regional security, the Middle East conflict, Kashmir, Palestine, terrorism and water security.
Emphasising the importance of diplomacy, Shehbaz said Pakistan remained committed to peace and highlighted Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran. He also called for the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb to remain open, describing the waterways as vital arteries of the global economy.
Warning Over Indus Waters
A major part of the address focused on Pakistan’s water security. Shehbaz said the Indus River system was Pakistan’s lifeline and warned that any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of the waters would be treated as an “act of war.”
He also reiterated Pakistan’s position that India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance had no legal basis and maintained that the treaty remained binding and operational.
Kashmir Remains Central to Pakistan’s Position
On Kashmir, the prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. He said generations of Kashmiris had waited for the United Nations to fulfil its commitment to a free and impartial plebiscite.
Shehbaz said a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute was essential for lasting peace in South Asia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s diplomatic, political and moral support for the Kashmiri people.
Palestine and Gaza
Turning to Palestine, Shehbaz condemned the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank and called for an end to the violence.
He reiterated Pakistan’s position that a sovereign, independent and contiguous Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, represents the just and lasting solution to the conflict. He also condemned Israeli military actions in Lebanon and Syria.
Solidarity With Saudi Arabia
The prime minister condemned attacks by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia and expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Kingdom.
He also referred to the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, describing it as a collective commitment to defence, stability and peace rather than an arrangement directed against any particular country.
Terrorism and Afghanistan
Shehbaz also highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, saying the country had lost nearly 100,000 lives and suffered substantial economic losses.
He called for Afghan territory not to be used for attacks against Pakistan or any other country and urged Afghan authorities to take verifiable action against militant groups operating from their territory.
The prime minister also raised concerns over rising Islamophobia and called for an end to religious hatred.
Concluding his address, Shehbaz stressed that peace required diplomacy and action, arguing that rivers should serve irrigation and development rather than become sources of conflict. He called on the international community to restore trust and work toward preventing further wars.
