QUETTA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday firmly stated that Pakistan would not allow India to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that water must not be used as a weapon against the country.
Speaking to army officers at the Command and Staff College in Quetta, the Prime Minister condemned India’s repeated provocations, including its use of the Pahalgam incident as a justification for aggressive actions. He emphasized that Pakistan had responded decisively to such actions, both militarily and through diplomatic channels.
He paid rich tribute to the armed forces for playing a key role in Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos. The prime minister also credited the historic achievement to the professional leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir.
“We won a war against an enemy, which in the eyes of our detractors was unthinkable, but we have converted this unthinkable into a reality, and I think that is our finest hour in history,” he stated. “Pakistan at this point in time is flying high.”
“The Pakistan Air Force showed its professionalism by downing Indian jets and targeting seven high-value enemy assets,” he added.
Tension between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which claimed the lives of 26 people. India swiftly blamed Pakistan without presenting any credible evidence.
Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly denied the Indian allegations as baseless. Pakistan also offered a neutral and transparent international investigation into the incident.
On the night of May 6-7, India launched a series of air strikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Pakistan responded firmly and downed five Indian fighter jets and destroyed a brigade headquarters and several military posts. Both sides then exchanged missiles, which stretched over the week.
On May 10, when tensions between the two countries peaked, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between India and Pakistan.
In his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that the government and the people of Pakistan stand united with the armed forces in defending the country’s sovereignty.
Welcoming international guests at the Command and Staff College, the Prime Minister said their presence was a testament to Pakistan’s strong and enduring relationships with friendly nations. He praised the institution for its exceptional role in developing the country’s military leadership.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve, the premier warned that any future misadventure by India would be met with a resolute and forceful response.
On the economic front, PM Shehbaz highlighted the recent successful agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stating that it had brought much-needed economic stability. He noted a significant drop in inflation, which has fallen from 38% to single digits.
“There is now a need for deep-rooted structural reforms to ensure sustainable economic growth that benefits the common man,” he added.
“We would not shy away from undertaking difficult, tough, but very relevant, deep-rooted changes in our system,” he said. “We undertook those very difficult decisions, and we were able to calm those fears of our lending partners. Today, we are witnessing the fruits of those sacrifices made by the common man in Pakistan.”
“Our rupee stands stable [and] forex reserves have crossed over a billion dollars,” he said.
“These achievements, significant as they are, represent only the beginning of a very arduous, difficult, thorny journey towards progress and prosperity. On the way, we will meet huge challenges like mountains, rivers — we will have to surmount them [and] cross those rivers through unwavering commitment to our nation and our people, and that will require sacrifices, sweat and blood,” he emphasised.
