South Asia needs ‘proactive, not provocative’ leadership: PM
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• Premier recalls conflict with India, praises Trump’s role in ceasefire in speech at UN General Assembly
• Says Pakistan ready for result-oriented dialogue with New Delhi
• Calls Gaza tragedy ‘heart-wrenching’, urges urgent ceasefire
• Warns against ‘externally sponsored terrorism’ from Afghan soil
• Rejects loans as a solution for climate disaster recovery
• Meets UN chief
KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday recalled May’s four-day military escalation with India as he addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), stressing that South Asia needed “proactive rather than provocative leadership”.
“Our world is more complex today than ever before,” he said as he began his address. “Conflicts are intensifying, international law is being brazenly violated, humanitarian crises are multiplying, terrorism remains a potent threat, disinformation and fake news undermine trust, climate change threatens our very survival, and more so for countries like Pakistan.”
PM Shehbaz added that multilateralism is no longer an option but the need of the hour, according to a Dawn.com report.
He then explained that Pakistan’s foreign policy was based on peace, mutual respect and cooperation. “We believe in the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy,” he asserted.
The premier recalled that last year, from this very podium, “I had warned that Pakistan would act most decisively against any external aggression”.
“Those words of mine proved true … In May this year, my country confronted unprovoked aggression from our eastern front. Our enemy came shrouded in arrogance, [and] we sent them back in humiliation.
“India sought to extract political gains from a human tragedy by spurning my sincere offer of an independent international investigation into the Pahalgam incident. Instead, it attacked our cities and targeted our innocent civilians. When our territorial integrity and our national security were violated, our response was in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.”
He hailed Pakistan’s armed forces and the military leadership, stressing that “our falcons took flight and etched their answer across the skies, resulting in seven of the Indian jets being turned to scrap and dust”.
The prime minister thanked US President Donald Trump for his “active role” in helping secure the ceasefire, adding that Pakistan had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the least we could do … I think he (Mr Trump) truly is a man of peace.”
He also acknowledged diplomatic support from China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Iran, the UAE and the UN secretary general.
PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s willingness for a “composite, comprehensive and result-oriented dialogue” with India, while warning that Islamabad would defend its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. He also reaffirmed solidarity with Kashmiris, saying they would one day achieve their right to self-determination through a UN- backed plebiscite.
Solidarity with Palestinians
The prime minister described the plight of Palestinians as one of the “most heart-wrenching tragedies of our time”.
“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, each passing day brings new brutality,” he said.
In Gaza, he said, Israel’s genocidal onslaught had unleashed unspeakable terror upon women and children in a manner that had not been witnessed in the annals of history.
“In [the] blind pursuit of its nefarious goals, the Israeli leadership has unleashed a shameful campaign against the innocent Palestinians, which history will remember as one of its darkest chapters,” he added.
Emphasising the need to raise a voice over the atrocities in Gaza, he said, “We must speak, and speak loud and clear.”
He added, “Our words are too little and too late for Hind Rajab. A child, nay a little baby … My agony and the agony of the entire Muslim ummah, and the agony of all the nations on this planet, is that we failed Hind Rajab. And she will not forgive us.”
The PM continued, “The smallest coffins are the heaviest to carry. I would know, as I carried the coffin of Irtaza Abbas during the recent confrontation with India. He was only six years old. Therefore, we cannot and must not fail these children of Gaza, or any child anywhere in the world. We must find a path to a ceasefire now.”
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a sovereign Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Jerusalem as its capital.
“Palestine can no longer remain under Israeli shackles; it must be liberated and liberated with full commitment and full force,” he added.
He also welcomed the recognition of the State of Palestine by several countries recently and urged others to follow suit.
Referring to a meeting of Trump with the leaders of some Muslim countries earlier this week, he appreciated the US president’s “timely initiative” to call the moot on Gaza.
“I was also a part of that consultative process and I … pray to God that it rekindles hope for a ceasefire in the nearest future,” PM Shehbaz said.
He went on to criticise Israel for its recent attack on Doha that targeted Hamas leaders. Condemning the strike, he expressed solidarity with Qatar.
‘Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism’
The prime minister said Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and had made unmatched sacrifices over two decades. He stressed that Pakistan was now facing “externally sponsored terrorism” from groups operating from Afghan soil, urging the interim Afghan government to uphold human rights and prevent its territory from being used for cross-border violence.
He stressed that Pakistan “has a direct stake in a peaceful Afghanistan”.
“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.
But “the interim Afghan government must uphold human rights, including women’s rights. Above all, we expect the interim government to take effective action against terrorist groups and to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against any country”, he added.
Islamophobia, climate change
The prime minister further underlined that “there must be no space for hate speech, discrimination or violence against any person, or against any religion”.
“Hate-driven ideologies, like Hindutva-driven extremism in India, pose a danger to the entire world. While there is growing recognition of the dangers posed by Islamophobia, the imperative of effectively combating this menace can hardly be overemphasised,” he asserted.
The premier said Pakistan welcomed the appointment of a UN special envoy to combat this scourge.
Turning to climate change, he cited Pakistan’s devastating floods of 2022 and 2025 as examples of “loss and damage” suffered despite the country’s less than one per cent contribution to global emissions.
He regretted that the country “continues to face the relentless brunt and muddy waves of climate change, and then we are told to take loans and add to our debt”.
“This is not fairness, this is not equality, this is not justice, this is not fair play,” he asserted. “I think borrowing loans would be [akin to] destroying our economy. We would be better off … standing on our own feet, working hard and tirelessly.”
Meeting with UN chief
Earlier, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session in New York, PM Shehbaz met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, according to a PM Office statement.
During their warm meeting, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, with the UN playing a key role in tackling global challenges. He appreciated the secretary-general’s leadership in promoting peace, stability, and giving developing countries a stronger voice in global governance. He also thanked him for recognising Pakistan’s rescue efforts during recent floods and stressed the need for increased international climate finance to help vulnerable countries like Pakistan.
He highlighted critical issues such as the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, and terrorism, urging peaceful resolutions per UN Security Council resolutions. He expressed concern over Gaza, supporting a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and a political solution toward Palestinian statehood.
The secretary-general praised Pakistan’s principled role at the UN Security Council.
Both leaders agreed on strengthening the UN’s essential role in promoting global peace and development.
Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2025
