MUHAMMAD SHEHBAZ SHARIF, Prime Minister of Pakistan, recalled that Quaid-e-Azam Muhamad Ali Jinnah — the father of the Pakistani nation — declared in 1947 that “we stand by the United Nations Charter and will gladly make our full contribution to peace and prosperity of the world.”  While pointing to the daunting global challenges, he observed:  “We feel the chill of a new world order.”  “Our hearts bleed, as we witness the tragedy unfolding in the Holy Land,” he continued, adding:  “When we ignore their endless suffering, we diminish our own humanity.”  Noting that it is not enough to condemn, he stressed that States must act now.  More so, nations must work for a two-State solution and Palestine must also be immediately admitted as a full UN Member.  However, he observed that the failure to implement UN resolutions has emboldened Israel — it threatens to “drag the entire Middle East into a war”.

Like the people of Palestine, the people of Jammu and Kashmir “too” have struggled for a century for their freedom and right to self-determination.  Instead of moving towards peace, India has resiled from commitments to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions and since 5 August 2019, initiated unilateral illegal steps to impose what its leader “ominously” called a “final solution for Jammu and Kashmir”.  At the same time, “in a classic settler-colonial project”, India is seizing Kashmiri lands and settling outsiders into the occupied territories to transform the Muslim majority into a minority.  While the Kashmiri people are “resolute in rejection of the false Indian identity”, New Deli’s policy of brutal coercion and oppression has ensured that Burhan Wani’s legacy continues to inspire the struggle and sacrifices of millions of Kashmiris.  “Inspired by the legitimacy of their epic struggle, they remain defiant,” he stressed.  He also added that Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian aggression.

Recalling that, in 2022, Pakistan was devastated by catastrophic floods — causing $30 billion in damages — he observed that his country emits less than 1 per cent of carbon globally.  “Yet we have paid a very heavy price for no fault of ours,” he added.  To that end, the “morally bankrupt” international financial architecture must be reformed to provide global equity.  Since assuming office in March, the well-being and prosperity of his 240 million people has been his only focus, he said.  His Government has taken difficult but necessary decisions that have rescued the economy from collapse, restored macroeconomic stability and strengthened the reserves.  As a result, inflation has come to single digits.  Furthermore, the second phase of the landmark China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has been launched.  Through the apex Special Investment Facilitation Council, Pakistan is mobilizing investment in resilient infrastructure and renewable energy.

For two decades, Pakistan has fought terrorism “boldly and most successfully”, he observed, adding:  “We have paid a very high price.”  Eighty thousand Pakistani soldiers and civilians have been martyred and its economy suffered a loss of $150 billion.  Yet, today, the country is again confronted with a surge of externally financed terrorism by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)/Fitna al-Khawarij and its associates.  While Pakistan seeks the normalization of the situation in Afghanistan, it joined the UN’s appeal for $3 billion in humanitarian assistance.  Also spotlighting the escalation of Islamophobia, he said that its most alarming manifestation is “the Hindu supremacist agenda in India” that “aggressively” seeks the subjugation of 200 million Muslims and the obliteration of India’s Islamic heritage.  However, “the weak are not voiceless, the oppressed should not lose hope and poverty is not pre-ordained,” he added.