UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that the holy sites in Saudi Arabia were a “red line” for Pakistan, condemning the Houthi militia attacks and stressing Islamabad’s unwavering support for the Kingdom.
PM Sharif condemned, “in the strongest possible terms”, the recent attacks by the Houthis against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, calling them “deplorable”. He expressed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
“Pakistan stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Prime Minister Sharif said while addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemns recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying the attempted drone attack on Makkah Mukarramah has outraged Muslims worldwide. Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, he says threats to the safety and sanctity of holy sites… pic.twitter.com/2p2v2UY4LP
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 25, 2026
Prime Minister Sharif said the attempted drone attack by the Houthi militia on the holy city of Makkah had “outraged Muslims across the globe”, stressing that any threat to the safety and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain was a “red line that must never be crossed”.
“No Muslim can even dare to think of committing such a heinous crime. Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia, as we always have throughout our history,” PM Sharif said.
Prime Minister Sharif also highlighted the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia as a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to peace.
“This alliance is not directed against any country; it is a collective commitment for defence, stability and peace in the region, and nothing more,” PM Sharif stressed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says the historic Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye Joint Defence Agreement reflects Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to peace. Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, he stresses that the alliance is not directed against any country and is a… pic.twitter.com/NDEmslIWQK
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 25, 2026
Prime Minister Sharif also called for the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to remain open, describing the two waterways as “arteries of the global economy”.
“They must remain open — connecting nations, not becoming choke points of confrontation,” he said. “These waters must carry the promise of prosperity, not the perils of war.”
“The pursuit of peace is among the noblest of human endeavours,” the Prime Minister said, adding that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s declaration of support for the UN Charter had shaped Pakistan’s national ethos and “guided our conduct at home and abroad”.
He addressed the conflict in the Gulf region and wider Middle East, highlighting the loss of lives, economic suffering and pressure faced by critical maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan’s Mediation Efforts
Prime Minister Sharif said Pakistan had acted swiftly amid the conflict in the Gulf and wider Middle East, bringing Washington and Tehran together in Islamabad.
“Through concerted efforts, Pakistan brought Washington and Tehran under one roof in Islamabad,” he said, referring to the Islamabad talks that resulted in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran in June.
PM Sharif praised Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his “relentless efforts” to create space for diplomacy under difficult circumstances.
He also appreciated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for his role in the Pakistan-led diplomatic process for the Middle East peace and stability.
Pakistan-India conflict
Recalling the May conflict with India last year, Prime Minister Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces had responded with “precision” and repulsed an enemy attack. He said Pakistan had taught India a lesson “it shall never ever forget”.
PM Sharif said Pakistan exercised its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter last year in May, with the armed forces responding to the Indian attack under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
“Our brave and valiant armed forces, under the courageous leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, responded with precision and professionalism,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan’s armed forces, under Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s leadership, responded to Indian aggression with precision and professionalism while exercising the country’s right to self defence. Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, he… pic.twitter.com/tXIXtBiDli
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 25, 2026
He once again praised US President Donald Trump’s “resolute and visionary leadership” in brokering a ceasefire between the two countries in May 2025, stressing that “hundreds of millions of lives in South Asia were saved”.
“Who knows the extent of devastation that could have taken place had President Trump not stepped in at this critical moment with clarity of thought and action?” he said.
“We must therefore ensure that South Asia never reaches this precipice ever again.”
This, however, the Prime Minister added, required a fair resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
Opening his address, Sharif said: “The pursuit of peace is among the noblest of human endeavours.”
He also invoked the legacy of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, saying his support for the UN Charter had shaped Pakistan’s national ethos and guided its conduct at home and abroad.
‘Kashmir Will Always be Pakistan’s Jugular Vein’
This, however, the Prime Minister added, required a fair resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
“For eight decades, the Kashmiri people have waited for the United Nations to fulfil its solemn commitment of a free and impartial plebiscite,” he pointed out.
Prime Minister Sharif added that the Kashmiri people had endured “illegal occupation, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, sexual violence and collective punishment” for generations.
He reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to extend its full diplomatic, political and moral support to Kashmiris until they were granted their right to self-determination, terming Kashmir “Pakistan’s jugular vein”.
The prime minister said South Asia must never again reach the brink of an all-out war, stressing that this required a “just and fair” resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
The prime minister said attempts to alter the legal status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir through demographic changes and other measures are underway.
He assured Kashmiris that Pakistan would continue providing diplomatic, political and moral support until they achieved their “inalienable right to self-determination”.
“Kashmir has been, and always will be, Pakistan’s jugular vein,” Shehbaz said.
Holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is an ‘Act of War’
Speaking on the Indus Water Treaty, the prime minister said that water is the “lifeblood” not only of Pakistan but of the entire region, warning that any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of river waters would be treated as an “act of war”.
The prime minister also called attention to India’s unilateral decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance since last year’s conflict, stressing that it had no legal basis.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says water must never be weaponized, warning that any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of Indus waters will be treated as an act of war. Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, he says India’s decision to hold the Indus… pic.twitter.com/xsb41dolMo
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 25, 2026
He highlighted that the country’s claims and actions regarding the treaty had been rejected by UN experts as well as by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, leaving Pakistan “vindicated beyond any doubt” in its position.
“Water must never be weaponised. Rivers should nourish nations, not divide them,” he stressed, adding that any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of the waters would be regarded as an act of war by India.
The prime minister maintained that Pakistan’s position that the treaty remained “valid, binding and fully operative” had been vindicated.
“Water must never be weaponised. Rivers should nourish nations, not divide them,” PM Sharif said.
He warned India against attempting to interfere with Pakistan’s share of the waters, saying Islamabad would regard any such move as an act of war.
Use of Afghan Territory for Terrorism Against Pakistan
Prime Minister Sharif termed terrorism a grave threat to international peace and security, emphasising that Pakistan had sacrificed “almost 100,000 precious lives” and suffered economic losses of over $150 billion in combating terrorism.
He added that Afghan territory continued to be exploited by terrorist groups including the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorist groups to carry out attacks against Pakistan. “These foreign-funded groups operated from sanctuaries in Afghanistan intending to destabilise Pakistan,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan has sacrificed nearly 100,000 lives and suffered over $150 billion in economic losses fighting terrorism. Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, he pays tribute to the armed forces and civilians whose sacrifices have made the… pic.twitter.com/rhQ91y1K5A
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 25, 2026
PM Sharif called on the Afghan Taliban regime to halt all such terrorist attacks, fulfil their international commitments and take “verifiable, decisive action to ensure that Afghan soil is never again used against Pakistan or any other country”.
The Prime Minister also called for the fundamental rights of Afghans, particularly women and girls, to be respected.
Pakistan PM Condemns Israel’s Actions in Gaza and West Bank
During his address, PM Sharif also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Palestine, expressing his concern for ongoing Israeli violence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank as well as its continued aggression against Lebanon and Syria.
Prime Minister Sharif strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying Palestinians, particularly women, children and the elderly, have endured illegal occupation, displacement, suffering and death for generations.
In particular, PM Sharif noted that the forcible eviction of Palestinians in the West Bank “clearly reflects Israel’s genocidal agenda”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says children in Gaza deserve the same lives, dreams and futures as children anywhere else, calling their deaths an indictment of the world’s collective silence and inaction. Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, he condemns Israeli… pic.twitter.com/65IJUUFhkN
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 25, 2026
He recalled the killing of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and highlighted the death of eight-year-old Wafaa Akeela, whose first day of school became her last.
Prime Minister Sharif questioned whether children born in Gaza did not deserve the same life, future and dreams as children elsewhere.
PM Sharif said the deaths of Hind Rajab, Wafaa Akeela and countless others would remain an indictment of the international community’s silence and inaction.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan supported an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
“Pakistan believes that the only just and lasting solution is the creation of an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” he reaffirmed.
The prime minister also condemned Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Syria, calling for an immediate end to the violence.
