PM Shehbaz at UNGA: Haramain a ‘Red Line’, Hormuz Must Stay Open
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared the security and sanctity of Islam’s holy sites a “red line” for Pakistan while calling for the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to remain open, as he laid out Islamabad’s positions on Middle East conflicts, India, Kashmir, Palestine, terrorism and economic recovery before the United Nations General Assembly.
Addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Shehbaz said Pakistan had chosen dialogue over confrontation and peace over war at a time of growing global conflict and mistrust.
The prime minister said the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab were vital arteries of the global economy and should remain open amid conflict and disruption across the Middle East.
Haramain Security a ‘Red Line’
Shehbaz strongly condemned recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including an attempted drone attack targeting Makkah.
He said any threat to the sanctity and security of the Haramain Sharifain represented a red line and reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
The prime minister also addressed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, saying the arrangement was not directed against any particular country.
He characterised the agreement as a shared commitment to defence, regional stability and peace.
Pakistan Highlights US-Iran Mediation
A significant part of the speech focused on the Middle East conflict and Pakistan’s diplomatic role.
Shehbaz said Pakistan had helped bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table in Islamabad as part of efforts to reduce tensions and end the conflict. He credited Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar with contributing to those diplomatic efforts and also acknowledged Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, China and other countries.
The speech came during an intense week of diplomacy over Iran. US officials have said Washington remains open to talks, although no direct US-Iran meeting had been scheduled earlier in the UN week.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also told Shehbaz during their New York meeting that the Islamabad memorandum remained acceptable to Tehran and that Iran was prepared to take it forward, according to the Pakistani prime minister’s account.
Shehbaz Raises India-Pakistan Conflict
Turning to South Asia, Shehbaz revisited Pakistan’s military confrontation with India last year.
He said Pakistan had faced what he described as unprovoked Indian aggression and had responded under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognises the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence following an armed attack.
Shehbaz also thanked US President Donald Trump for what he described as timely intervention in preventing further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Those descriptions reflect Pakistan’s account of the conflict; India has presented its own account of the hostilities and the circumstances surrounding their end.
Kashmir Returns to UN Stage
The prime minister again raised the Kashmir dispute, calling for a settlement and saying Kashmiris had waited for decades for the right to self-determination.
He pledged continued Pakistani diplomatic, political and moral support for Kashmiris and described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.”
Kashmir remains disputed between India and Pakistan, which administer separate portions of the territory and claim it in full.
Strong Warning Over Indus Waters
Shehbaz also addressed the Indus Waters Treaty, rejecting India’s unilateral move concerning the agreement.
He said water could not be used as a weapon and warned that Pakistan would regard an attempt to stop or divert its share of Indus waters as an “act of war.”
The statement is Pakistan’s position in the continuing bilateral dispute over the treaty and should not be interpreted as an announcement that military action has been initiated.
Pakistan Reiterates Palestinian State Position
On Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Shehbaz renewed Pakistan’s support for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds/Jerusalem as its capital.
He condemned Israeli military actions affecting Palestinians and also criticised Israeli actions involving Lebanon and Syria.
The prime minister focused particularly on Palestinian children killed during the conflict, arguing that the international community had failed to adequately protect civilians.
The UN secretary-general has separately renewed his support during this General Assembly for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
Afghanistan and Terrorism
Shehbaz also used the speech to press Afghanistan’s authorities over militant groups Pakistan says operate from Afghan territory.
He called on Kabul to prevent Afghan soil from being used for attacks against Pakistan or other countries and said Afghan authorities should fulfil their international commitments.
Pakistan has repeatedly alleged that militant groups, including the TTP, use sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. Afghan Taliban authorities have disputed or rejected various Pakistani allegations, making careful attribution essential.
Shehbaz said Pakistan had lost approximately 100,000 lives and suffered around $150 billion in economic losses in its fight against terrorism.
Islamophobia, Economy and Climate Change
The prime minister also warned of increasing Islamophobia, citing discrimination, attacks on mosques and incidents involving the desecration of the Quran.
He then turned to Pakistan’s economy, saying economic recovery remained his government’s top priority and pointing to reforms, digitalisation, agricultural and industrial modernisation, and investment in artificial intelligence and IT skills.
Separately, Shehbaz told a US-based business delegation during his New York visit that Pakistan’s economy had stabilised and was moving towards growth.
Climate change was another major theme. Shehbaz argued that Pakistan remains disproportionately exposed to climate risks despite contributing relatively little to the problem and called on developed economies to play a greater role in addressing the challenge.
Diplomacy at Centre of Pakistan’s UN Message
The overarching theme of Shehbaz’s address was Pakistan’s call for diplomacy at a time when wars and geopolitical rivalries are placing increasing pressure on international institutions and global trade.
The prime minister framed Pakistan as supporting dialogue in the Middle East while simultaneously setting out firm positions on Saudi security, Kashmir, water rights and Palestine.
His appeal for keeping the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab open also underscored the economic stakes of the regional conflicts, given the importance of the two waterways to international energy and maritime trade.
