Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the critical importance of keeping the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb open during his address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly session in New York. He described these waterways as vital “arteries of the global economy” that must facilitate connection rather than become points of conflict amid rising regional tensions.
He highlighted the recent disruptions, noting that following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, Tehran initially closed the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the Houthis have been obstructing shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, contributing to a surge in global energy prices. The prime minister urged that these waters should symbolize prosperity and not be arenas of war.
Turning to Saudi Arabia, Shehbaz strongly condemned the recent Houthi attacks on the Kingdom, particularly the attempted drone strike on the holy city of Makkah, which he said had outraged Muslims worldwide. He underscored that any threat to the sanctity and safety of the Haramain Sharifain is an inviolable red line. Pakistan stands unwaveringly in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, as it always has throughout history.
He also referenced the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, emphasizing that the alliance is purely for defense, stability, and peace in the region, not targeted against any nation.
Addressing the Indus Water Treaty, the prime minister called water the “lifeblood” of Pakistan and the broader region, warning that any effort to impede or divert Pakistan’s rightful share of river waters would be seen as an act of war. He criticized India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty as lacking any legal foundation, with the treaty’s validity upheld by experts and the Court of Arbitration. Shehbaz stressed that water should unite nations rather than divide them.
He recalled Pakistan’s exercise of its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter in May last year, when the armed forces responded to an Indian attack under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The prime minister also acknowledged former US President Donald Trump’s role in preventing a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, saving millions of lives in South Asia.
Shehbaz called for a just and fair resolution of the Kashmir dispute to prevent the region from nearing all-out war again. He described the Kashmiris’ eight-decade-long wait for the UN to fulfill its promise of a free and impartial plebiscite, highlighting the ongoing illegal occupation and human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and collective punishments. The prime minister condemned attempts to alter the legal status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir through demographic changes. He assured Kashmiris of Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, political, and moral support until their right to self-determination is achieved, calling Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein.”
On terrorism, Shehbaz described it as a grave threat to international peace and security, noting Pakistan’s heavy sacrifices in combating it, including nearly 100,000 lives lost and economic damages exceeding $150 billion. He accused Afghan territory of being used by banned groups such as the TTP, referred to as Fitna al-Khawarij, and the BLA, called Fitna al-Hindustan, to launch attacks against Pakistan. The prime minister urged Afghan authorities to honor their international obligations and take verifiable steps to prevent their soil from being used for such activities, while also calling for the protection of fundamental rights, especially for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Shehbaz sharply condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank, recalling the deaths of Palestinian children Hind Rajab and eight-year-old Wafaa Akeela, emphasizing the ongoing suffering endured by Palestinians under occupation. He questioned the denial of basic rights and futures to children born in Gaza and criticized the international community’s silence. Pakistan supports an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state within pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The prime minister also condemned Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Syria, urging an immediate cessation of violence. He expressed concern over rising Islamophobia worldwide, citing hate speech, discrimination, attacks on mosques, and Quran desecration. Shehbaz criticized the RSS-driven Hindutva ideology in India for fostering religious hatred, communal violence, and restricting religious freedom, citing the demolition of a 150-year-old mosque in Saharanpur as an example.
Finally, the prime minister highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on Pakistan, noting that the country contributes less than 1% of global emissions yet suffers severe consequences repeatedly. He called on developed nations to fulfill their climate finance commitments, provide funding for loss and damage, and support efforts for adaptation and resilience.
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