Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday stressed that Pakistan had sought peace in the region after delivering a “bloody nose” to India during the two nations’ conflict in May.
“We have won the war, and now we seek to win peace in our part of the world, and this is my most sincere and serious offer before this assembly of the world nations,” he said in his address at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). “Last year, from this very podium, I had warned that Pakistan would act—and act most decisively—against any external aggression. Those words of mine proved true. I hoped they would not. But then, that is destiny,” he said.
“My country confronted unprovoked aggression from our eastern front [in May]. The enemy came shrouded in arrogance; we sent them back in humiliation, delivering a bloody nose,” he said, regretting that India had sought to profit off a human tragedy in Pahalgam, ignoring a sincere offer for an independent international investigation. “When our territorial integrity and national security were violated, our response was in accordance with the right of self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter,” he added.
Praising Field Marshal Asim Munir for leading the armed forces in the operation against the enemy’s attack, he reiterated that Pakistani pilots had downed seven Indian jets. “To the fair architect of this victory, to every officer and soldier, heirs of our martyrs—their names are forever engraved in glory,” he said. “The mothers of our martyrs—their courage guides our path forward, and their sacrifice shall never be in vain, God willing. And to every Pakistani, you stood as one unbreakable wall—Bunyanum Marsoos,” he added.
He stressed that Pakistan, despite being in a position of strength, had agreed to a ceasefire facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump. Praising Trump and his team, he reiterated that the U.S. president’s efforts for peace had convinced Pakistan to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Pursuing Talks
“Pakistan stands ready for a composite, comprehensive, and result-oriented dialogue with Indian on all outstanding issues,” he said, while noting that India’s unilateral and illegal attempt to hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance not only violated the treaty itself, but also norms of international law. He emphasized that Pakistan would “definitely defend the inseparable right of our 240 million people on these waters,” adding any violation of the treaty represented an act of war for Islamabad.
“Through this house, I wish to assure the Kashmiris that I stand with them, the people of Pakistan stand with them, and one day soon India’s tyranny in Kashmir will come to a grinding halt, Kashmir will gain its fundamental right to self-determination through an impartial plebiscite under the auspices of this very organization, the U.N., “ he added.
Israeli aggression
During his address, the prime minister regretted that the world was in the midst of multiple crises, including intensifying conflicts, brazen violation of international laws, terrorism, disinformation, and climate change. “Today, multilateralism is no longer an option; it is the need of the hour. Pakistan’s foreign policy, guided by Quaid-e-Azam, is based on peace, mutual respect, and cooperation. We believe in the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.
He described the plight of the Palestinian people as one of the most heart-wrenching tragedies of our times. “This prolonged injustice is a stain on the global conscience and our collective moral failure. For nearly 80 years, the Palestinians have courageously endured Israel’s brutal occupation of their homeland in the West Bank, with each passing day bringing new brutality, illegal settlers who terrorize and kill with impunity, and nobody can challenge them or question them,” he said. In Gaza particularly, he said, Israel’s genocidal onslaught has unleashed unspeakable terror upon women and children in a manner not witnessed in the annals of history. History will remember this as one of humanity’s darkest chapters, he warned.
“Our words are too little and too late for a child, Hind Rajab. We have all heard a trembling voice, a phone call that little Hind made as she struggled to stay alive under the Israeli onslaught and atrocities,” he said. “My agony, the agony of the entire Muslim Ummah and of all nations, that we failed Hind Rajab. And she will not forget us in this world or the hereafter. As they say, the smallest coffins are the heaviest to carry,” he said, recalling that the Indian airstrikes on Pakistan in May had also claimed the life of a child, Irtiza Abbas. “Therefore, we must not and cannot fail the children of Gaza or any child anywhere in the world. We must find a path to a ceasefire now—and just now.”
He said Pakistan firmly supports the demand of the Palestinian people for the establishment of a sovereign state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Sharif as its capital. “Palestine can no longer remain under Israeli shackles; it must be liberated and liberated with full commitment and force,” he said, recalling Islamabad was among the first countries to recognize Palestinian statehood in 1988. “Now, we welcome [the recognition] of the state of Palestine by a number of countries and [we] urge others to follow suit, because time and tied waits for none,” he added.
Referring to Israel’s recent attack on Doha as reflective of its rogue behavior, Sharif said Pakistan’s support for Qatar was unwavering. “We also support all efforts of a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict in line with the U.N. charter to end human suffering and global turmoil caused by this war,” he said.
Terrorism
“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. For over two decades, Pakistan has been at the front line of global counter-terrorism efforts,” he said, noting the country has lost 90,000 people to the scourge and suffered economic losses of $150 billion. “Please tell me, with a hand on your heart, what can be a bigger manifestation of our commitment to fight terrorism and erase it not only from Pakistan but from the face of the world?” he questioned.
“I believe a man killed in New York is a man killed in Lahore, and a man killed in Islamabad is a man killed in London. It’s a global village, and unless and until terrorism is defeated hands down, this world will not be a peaceful place to live. For that, Pakistan’s sacrifices are probably the greatest around the globe,” he emphasized, noting that if Pakistan did not restrain terrorism on its borders, the same terrorists would be roaming the streets of New York and London. “I think this is our humble contribution not only for the people of Pakistan but for the people all over the world,” he said.
“Today, we face externally sponsored terrorism, particularly from foreign-funded groups such as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Fitna al-Hindustan, BLA and its Majeed Brigade operating from Afghan soil,” he said, stressing that as an immediate neighbor and brotherly country Afghanistan’s situation was of direct concern for Pakistan.
“We believe that the key to development and prosperity lies in regional stability and connectivity. Pakistan continues to engage with all partners to extend humanitarian assistance, promote economic recovery, and encourage an inclusive political framework in Afghanistan,” he said, while stressing that Kabul must uphold human rights, including women’s rights.
“Above all, we expect the Afghan government to take effective action against terrorist groups and ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against any country,” he said.
“There must be no space for hate speech, discrimination, and violence against any person or any religion. Hate-driven ideologies, such as India’s Hindutva-driven extremism, pose a danger to the entire world,” he said, welcoming the appointment of a U.N. special envoy to combat Islamophobia.
Climate change
At the UNGA, the prime minister called for urgent collective action to address climate change. In 2022, he recalled, Pakistan faced massive floods that caused losses amounting to $34 billion, with many lives lost. This year again, he said, Pakistan was facing another mega flood, with thousands of villages wiped off the face of the earth. He said millions had been displaced, more than 1,000 killed, and billions of dollars worth of crops, livestock, and property destroyed.
“I have declared a climate emergency to cope with this challenge. The catastrophic floods of 2022 and 2025 are clear examples of loss and damage due to climate change,” he said, noting Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global emissions annually. “Yet, it continues to face the relentless brunt and muddy waves of climate change, and then we are told to get loans and add to our huge debt—the pillars we have built over time. This is not fairness, this is not equality, this is not justice, this is not fair play,” he said, questioning how Pakistan could be expected to take on more debt to tackle a crisis not of its making. “We will be better off not borrowing loans, but standing on our own feet, working hard tirelessly with blood and sweat. We will make Pakistan a great country,” he emphasized.
“Let me assure you that Pakistan will always stand for peace, justice, and development—for a revitalized U.N. and for cooperative multilateralism that is fair, inclusive, and delivers for all,” he said. “Let this 80th anniversary not simply commemorate history; let us make history and chart a future for the next 80 years, with the U.N. as an enduring hope for global good. Let us truly strive to become better together.”