The Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif addressed key global and regional issues, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace, and issued stern warnings against aggression, terrorism, and injustice, especially in South Asia and the Middle East.
This came during his speech at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Friday.
Opening his address, the Prime Minister congratulated the incoming President of the UNGA and commended Secretary-General António Guterres for steering the United Nations through global turbulence.
Declaring that "multilateralism is no longer an option, but essential," he framed his speech within the broader context of rising global challenges including climate change, terrorism, disinformation, and the erosion of international law.
A significant portion of the address was dedicated to recent tensions between Pakistan and India. The Prime Minister recounted the events of May 2025, when Pakistan responded militarily to what he termed “unprovoked aggression” from India. Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, he justified Pakistan’s military response as self-defense.
Pakistan’s armed forces, he said, had acted with “stunning professionalism and bravery” under the command of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu. The Prime Minister lauded the downing of seven Indian jets and emphasized the national unity shown by the people of Pakistan, describing them as “one unbreakable wall.”
Despite claiming military success, the Prime Minister praised former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “bold and visionary” intervention in facilitating a ceasefire, crediting the U.S., along with allies like China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and others, for helping to avert a broader regional war.
Reasserting Pakistan’s position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Prime Minister accused India of systemic human rights violations and called for the implementation of UN resolutions enabling Kashmiris to exercise their right to self-determination.
He also warned against India’s alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, labeling any disruption of water flows as tantamount to an “act of war.”
Drawing parallels between Kashmir and Palestine, the Prime Minister strongly condemned Israel's “genocidal onslaught” in Gaza. He invoked the tragic case of Hind Rajab, a Palestinian child whose death became symbolic of civilian suffering in the conflict.
"Can you imagine that little girl as your daughter?" he asked the global community, urging immediate action for a ceasefire and long-term resolution.
He reiterated Pakistan’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He welcomed recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood and applauded President Trump’s initiative to convene Arab-Islamic states at the UN.
The Prime Minister condemned terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations” and claimed Pakistan remains on the frontlines of the global counterterrorism effort, having endured over 90,000 casualties and economic losses of $150 billion.
He highlighted threats from groups operating from Afghan territory, including TTP, BLA, and others, while calling on Afghanistan’s Interim Government to prevent the use of its soil for terrorism.
Pakistan, he affirmed, remains committed to regional peace and connectivity but demands reciprocal commitments from its neighbors.
Turning to climate change, the Prime Minister described the floods of 2022 and 2025 as catastrophic, reiterating that although Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global emissions, it is among the most climate-vulnerable nations.
Declaring a climate emergency, he called for developed nations to fulfill their commitments on climate finance and technology transfer, urging equitable burden-sharing in the global fight against environmental collapse.
Highlighting domestic reforms, the Prime Minister pointed to macroeconomic stabilization, tax reform, digitization, and investments in AI and crypto as markers of Pakistan’s economic turnaround.
He emphasized strategic partnerships, particularly with China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative as a “framework for just and inclusive development.”
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Pakistan pledged continued support for peacekeeping and a more equitable global governance architecture. The Prime Minister rejected calls to expand permanent membership of the UNSC, arguing it would increase paralysis and selectivity.
Sharif closed his remarks with a call to action: “Let us not simply commemorate history; let us make history... with these United Nations, as humanity’s enduring hope for global good.”
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