Islamabad (The Thursday Times) — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his address to the United Nations General Assembly, said that the atrocities in Palestine make our hearts weep tears of blood. Palestinian children are being buried alive and burned while the world remains a spectator. An independent Palestinian state must be established with Jerusalem as its capital. The Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance with UN resolutions, and Pakistan will give a decisive response to any Indian aggression.
At the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif began his address by reciting verses from the Quran. He said it is an honor for him to address the UN General Assembly as Pakistan’s Prime Minister for the second time, where Pakistan has been an active member.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that in 1947, our founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had said that we stand with the UN Charter and will play a full role in world peace and prosperity. Today, the world system faces serious challenges, including Israel’s genocide and massacre in Gaza, a dangerous conflict in Ukraine, devastating conflicts across Africa and Asia, increasing global tensions, rising terrorism, growing poverty, and the monumental challenge of climate change. These issues echo calls for a new world order.
Considering these challenges, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a Future Summit, which led to a pact to adopt 54 measures on development, peace and security, technology, and global governance. The failure to implement UN resolutions has further endangered the Middle East, and Israel has been given free rein to increase its aggression.
Presenting the case of Palestine, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “Today I stand before you to express the pain and suffering of the people of Pakistan for the plight of the people of Gaza. Our hearts weep tears of blood over the atrocities in this sacred land (Palestine). This is a tragedy that has shaken the conscience of humanity. How can we remain silent while innocent Palestinians are being buried under the rubble of their homes in Gaza? How can we close our eyes to the mothers holding the lifeless bodies of their children in their arms? This is not a conflict but a systematic slaughter of the innocent people of Palestine.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for action beyond condemnation, demanding an immediate end to Israeli aggression against the Palestinians. He stated that the world is witnessing a great tragedy unfolding on the sacred land of Palestine, where Palestinian children are being buried alive and burned while the world watches as a mere spectator. There is an urgent need for a two-state solution to end the suffering in Gaza, and an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital must be established. Palestine should be immediately recognised as a permanent member of the United Nations.
Raising the issue of Kashmir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that like the people of Palestine, the people of Occupied Kashmir have long struggled for freedom. The Kashmir issue remains on the UN Security Council’s agenda, where it was agreed that the people of Kashmir would be granted the right to self-determination. However, India continues its human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir. The world must pay attention to the inhumane atrocities committed by the occupying Indian forces. The Kashmir issue must be resolved in accordance with UN resolutions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that on August 5, 2019, India revoked the special status of Occupied Kashmir. India is settling outsiders in Occupied Kashmir to turn the Muslim majority into a minority. Despite Indian oppression, Kashmiri youth are carrying forward the legacy of Burhan Wani’s ideology. Pakistan will give a decisive response to any Indian aggression. For peace in the region, India must end its unilateral actions in Occupied Kashmir, where over 900,000 Indian troops have unleashed a reign of terror.
The Prime Minister also spoke about Islamophobia, expressing concern over the rising incidents of Islamophobia worldwide, particularly in India, where hatred against Muslims is growing. He emphasized that Allah has promised to help the weak and oppressed. Extremist ideologies must be eradicated for global peace, and Pakistan is ready to contribute to peace and counter-terrorism efforts in Africa.
Speaking about climate change, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that it poses a significant global challenge. Two years ago, catastrophic floods caused $30 billion in damage to Pakistan. Pakistan is determined to achieve sustainable development goals in collaboration with global partners.
The Prime Minister highlighted the plight of over 100 developing countries trapped in debt, stating that global financial system reforms are essential. Effective policies have helped improve Pakistan’s economy, with better economic indicators and reduced inflation. Pakistan’s economy is now on the path to growth and progress. The successful launch of CPEC Phase Two is a testament to the strong friendship between Pakistan and China, and CPEC will further boost Pakistan’s economy.
Regarding terrorism, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan faces externally supported terrorism. Pakistan has made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and remains committed to combating it. Terrorism has become a global problem, and Pakistan continues to face terrorism from external forces. In the war against terrorism, 80,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives.
