PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Powerful Address at UNGA 2025: Calls for Gaza Ceasefire, Justice for Kashmir, and Global Climate Action

New York: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday delivered a powerful address at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he drew global attention to ongoing conflicts, injustices, and emerging threats to world peace ,particularly the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Opening his remarks with greetings of peace, the Prime Minister said it was a great honour to represent Pakistan once again at the world’s highest diplomatic forum. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, recalling Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s 1947 declaration that Pakistan would always stand by the United Nations in promoting global peace and prosperity.

Condemns Gaza Genocide and Calls for Two-State Solution

In a passionate appeal, the Prime Minister condemned what he termed as “systematic slaughter” of the people of Gaza, stating that the tragedy unfolding in the Holy Land has shaken the conscience of humanity.

He asked the global community whether it could remain silent while innocent children were being buried under the rubble of their homes and mothers cradled the lifeless bodies of their loved ones.
“This is not merely a conflict; it is an assault on the very essence of human life and dignity,” he stressed.

Calling for immediate action, the Prime Minister urged the world to move beyond condemnations and work toward ending the bloodshed. He reiterated Pakistan’s consistent stance for a Two-State Solution, envisioning a viable, contiguous, and sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He also called for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations.

He further warned that Israel’s unrelenting military actions, including recent bombings in Lebanon that killed over 500 people, risk plunging the entire Middle East into a catastrophic regional war.

Reaffirms Support for Kashmiris’ Right to Self-Determination

Turning to South Asia, the Prime Minister drew parallels between the struggles of Palestinians and the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), who, he said, have endured decades of brutal occupation.

He strongly criticized India’s unilateral and illegal steps since 5 August 2019, describing them as part of a so-called “Final Solution” aimed at altering the demography of the region and denying the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination.

“Day in and day out, nine hundred thousand Indian troops terrorize the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir with curfews, extrajudicial killings, and abductions,” he said.
He added that India’s settler-colonial project aimed at transforming the Muslim-majority territory into a minority region would ultimately fail.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri struggle and called on the international community to ensure implementation of UN Security Council resolutions mandating a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister cautioned that India’s growing military capabilities and aggressive doctrines posed a serious threat to regional peace.
“Let me state in no uncertain terms — Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian aggression,” he warned.

He urged India to reverse its unilateral measures and resume dialogue for a peaceful settlement in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Climate Justice and Global Inequality

Highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change, the Prime Minister recalled the catastrophic floods that struck Pakistan two years ago, causing losses of $30 billion. Despite contributing less than 1% of global carbon emissions, Pakistan had paid a heavy price for climate injustice, he said, calling for implementation of the “polluter pays” principle.

He urged the international community to fulfill its financial commitments toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate finance, including a new annual goal exceeding $100 billion.

He also warned that nearly 100 developing nations were caught in a “death trap” of unsustainable debt, and achieving the SDGs under current conditions remained a distant dream. He called for urgent reforms in the international financial and trade systems, which he described as “morally bankrupt.”

Focus on Economic Revival and Regional Connectivity

Shehbaz Sharif informed the Assembly that since assuming office earlier this year, his government had taken tough decisions to stabilize Pakistan’s economy, restore macroeconomic discipline, and bring down inflation to a single digit.

Emphasizing Pakistan’s geo-economic vision, he said the country’s strategic location at the crossroads of South and Central Asia and the Middle East made it a natural hub for connectivity and regional trade.

He announced that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had been launched, and through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Pakistan was attracting investments in renewable energy, infrastructure, minerals, agriculture, and technology.

Vows to Eliminate Terrorism

The Prime Minister reminded the world that Pakistan had bravely fought terrorism for two decades, sacrificing 80,000 lives and suffering economic losses of $150 billion.
He lamented that the country was again facing a new wave of externally sponsored terrorism, led by the TTP/Fitna al-Khawarij and its associates.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to defeat the threat under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” (Resolve to Promote Stability) initiative and called for collective international action to reform global counter-terrorism frameworks.

On Afghanistan and Regional Peace

Shehbaz Sharif expressed support for peace and stability in Afghanistan, backing the UN’s appeal for $3 billion in humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people.

He called on the Afghan Interim Government to respect human rights, including those of women and girls, ensure political inclusion, and act decisively against terrorist groups such as ISIL-K, TTP, and others operating from Afghan soil.

Rising Islamophobia and Hindu Supremacy

The Prime Minister expressed deep concern over the surge in Islamophobia, citing frequent desecrations of the Holy Quran, attacks on mosques, and negative stereotyping of Muslims.

He condemned the Hindu supremacist agenda in India, which he said seeks to subjugate 200 million Muslims and erase centuries of Islamic heritage.

He announced that Pakistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) would work closely with the UN and its Special Envoy to implement a global plan of action to combat this scourge.

Calls for Peaceful Resolution of Global Conflicts

Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s call for an immediate end to the conflict in Ukraine and urged its peaceful resolution in accordance with the UN Charter and international agreements.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding partnership with African nations in areas of peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and regional development.

A Message of Hope and Justice

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister called on the international community to uphold justice, equity, and compassion in global affairs.

“As we leave this august hall,” he said, “we must remind our people that the weak are not voiceless, the oppressed must not lose hope, and poverty is not preordained. The Almighty’s promise of justice and equality in our only terrestrial home must be respected.”