ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Pakistan had “won the war with India” earlier this year and now seeks a path to comprehensive peace through dialogue.
In his third address to the global forum, he laid out Pakistan’s position on regional disputes, terrorism, climate change, and global governance, while also making an emotional appeal for Palestine.
PM Sharif opened his speech with a grim survey of the world’s challenges, citing intensifying conflicts, violations of international law, terrorism, disinformation, an arms race, and the climate crisis.
He said these threats demanded collective action: “Multilateralism is no more an option; it is essential.” While welcoming new UN initiatives such as the “Pact for the Future,” he warned that “mere declarations are not enough.”
Clash with India and ceasefire
Pakistani premier recounted the confrontation with India in May, accusing New Delhi of “unprovoked aggression” after rejecting Islamabad’s call for an international probe into the Pahalgam incident. He said Pakistan responded under its right of self-defense, shooting down seven Indian aircraft.
“Our valiant armed forces, under Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, mounted an operation of stunning professionalism and bravery,” he declared, crediting Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu for leading the air response.
Despite being in “a position of strength,” Sharif said Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump, whose “bold and visionary leadership” he praised for averting a wider South Asian war. He also thanked China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Azerbaijan, the UAE, and the UN Secretary-General for their diplomatic support.
Dialogue and Indus Waters Treaty
Sharif said Pakistan was ready for a “composite, comprehensive, and result-oriented dialogue” with India to resolve all outstanding disputes. But he issued a warning against India’s reported move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling any violation “an act of war.”
“The inalienable right of our 240 million people on these waters will be defended ardently,” he said.
PM Sharif also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, promising that “India’s tyranny will come to an end” and that Kashmiris will one day exercise their right to self-determination under a UN-supervised plebiscite.
Pakistan Calls for Urgent Action at the Meeting of the OIC Committee of Six on Palestine
Strong words on Palestine
The prime minister dedicated much of his address to the crisis in Gaza and the plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. He condemned a “genocidal onslaught” against women and children, referencing the case of Hind Rajab, a child killed in Gaza, as a symbol of global failure.
“We must find a path to a ceasefire now and just now,” Sharif urged, declaring Pakistan’s firm support for a sovereign Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. “Palestine can no longer remain under Israeli shackles. It must be liberated.”
He recalled Pakistan’s recognition of Palestine in 1988 and welcomed recent moves by other countries to extend recognition, urging the international community to follow suit. He also criticized Israeli strikes beyond Gaza, pledging solidarity with Qatar.
Counterterrorism and Afghanistan
Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations,” noting that the country has lost more than 90,000 lives and suffered $150 billion in economic losses over two decades of counterterrorism efforts.
He accused foreign-funded groups, including the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], BLA [Baloch Liberation Army] and its Majeed Brigade, of operating from Afghan soil and staging attacks such as the Jaffar Express hijacking earlier this year.
“As an immediate neighbor, Pakistan has a direct stake in a peaceful Afghanistan,” he said, calling on the Interim Afghan Government to respect human rights and ensure Afghan soil is not used for cross-border terrorism.
Islamophobia and extremism
Sharif warned of the dangers of “hate-driven ideologies,” including what he described as Hindutva extremism in India. He welcomed the appointment of a UN Special Envoy on Islamophobia and urged stronger international action against discrimination and hate speech.
Climate emergency
Turning to climate change, the prime minister reminded delegates of the devastating floods that struck Pakistan in 2022 and again in 2025, killing thousands and displacing millions. Declaring a climate emergency, he said Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global emissions yet remains among the 10 most vulnerable countries.
He called on wealthy nations to deliver on climate finance commitments, stressing that Pakistan was investing in resilience, clean energy, and sustainable development but needed international support to meet the scale of the challenge.
Economic reforms and partnerships
On domestic progress, Sharif highlighted structural reforms, tax modernization, investment mobilization, and adoption of digital technologies. He pointed to infrastructure, energy, agriculture, mining, and technology as priority sectors, and emphasized Pakistan’s strategic partnership with China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative.
He praised Chinese President Xi Jinping’s global initiatives, saying they offer “a comprehensive framework for a more just and inclusive development.”
UN reforms and global governance
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He said Islamabad supports a “more effective, more credible and more representative” United Nations, but opposed adding new permanent members to the Security Council, arguing it would “compound” the body’s paralysis and selectivity.
He closed his speech with a call for a reinvigorated UN that delivers peace, justice, and development for all: “Let this 80th anniversary not simply commemorate history. Let us make history.”
