Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, criticized India in his speech at the UN General Assembly and referred to the military constraints between the two countries. He claimed that a year ago, Pakistan faced foreign aggression from India under a false pretext and exercised its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Praise for the Pakistan Army
The Prime Minister of Pakistan praised his country's military forces, stating: "They silenced the enemy, repelled its attack, and taught it a lesson it will never forget." These remarks were made as the UN television camera zoomed in on an Indian observer listening to the statements.
Pakistan views the missile attacks from India on May 7 as the beginning of this low-intensity conflict, while India claims these attacks were retaliatory for an assault in Indian-administered Kashmir in late April. New Delhi has accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, which Islamabad denies.
Criticism of the Kashmir Situation
Sharif also praised the leadership of Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, for his efforts to mediate in the disputes between India and Pakistan, stating that this leadership has saved the lives of hundreds of millions in South Asia. He emphasized that South Asia must never reach the brink of a major war and that a fair resolution of the Kashmir conflict is necessary for this.
Sharif stated that the people of Kashmir have been waiting for eight decades for the UN to fulfill its commitment to hold a free and impartial referendum. He also criticized India's recent efforts to change the legal status of Kashmir through demographic changes and other illegal actions.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan called for the revival of diplomacy as tensions in the region have increased and emphasized the need to maintain the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb as global economic arteries. He also reacted strongly to the recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, condemning them.
