Pakistani premier urges India to engage in dialogue on Kashmir

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) — Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged India to engage in dialogue over Kashmir, warning that his country would respond "most decisively" to any Indian aggression.

Speaking at the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, Sharif emphasized that the Kashmiri people have been fighting for their freedom and right to self-determination for nearly a century, accusing India of reneging on its commitments to implement Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

"To secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since Aug. 5, 2019, and enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions, and the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he said.

Sharif criticized India's decision to revoke the longstanding semi-autonomous status of the disputed valley, a move that led Islamabad to downgrade its diplomatic ties and halt trade with New Delhi.

Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence or unification with neighboring Pakistan. According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have been killed in the conflict since 1989.

Sharif accused New Delhi of launching "a classic settler-colonial project" in Kashmir, seizing Kashmiri lands and properties, and settling outsiders there.

"Even more worryingly, India is engaged in a massive expansion of its military capabilities, which are essentially deployed against Pakistan. Its war doctrines envisage a surprise attack and a limited war under the nuclear overhang," he said, adding that Pakistan would respond "most decisively" to any Indian aggression.

- Condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza, Lebanon

The prime minister also condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, describing them as a "systematic slaughter of innocent people."

"Can we, as human beings, remain silent while children lie buried under the rubble of their shattered homes? Can we turn a blind eye to the mothers cradling the lifeless bodies of their children?

"This is not just a conflict. This is a systematic slaughter of innocent people, an assault on the very essence of human life and dignity," said Sharif.

Israel has pounded Lebanon since Monday morning, killing over 700 people and injuring nearly 2,200 others, according to figures released by the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The ministry also said that the death toll in Lebanon since last October is 1540, in addition to more than 77,000 displaced from southern and eastern parts of the country.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed more than 41,500 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last Oct. 7.

The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the specter of turning the Gaza conflict into a regional war.

- Climate change

During his speech, Sharif also highlighted the devastating impact of climate change on Pakistan, citing catastrophic floods in 2022 that caused $30 billion in damage.

"Pakistan emits less than 1% of carbon globally. Yet, we have paid a very heavy price for no fault of ours," he said.

He further noted that nearly 100 developing countries are trapped in a vicious cycle of debt and liquidity crisis, which he described as a "death trap" rather than a "debt trap."

- Escalation of Islamophobia

Addressing the growing trend of Islamophobia, Sharif said it was now manifested through the frequent desecrations of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, attacks on mosques, negative stereotyping of Muslims, and acts of discrimination and violence against them.

"The most alarming manifestation of Islamophobia is the Hindu supremacist agenda in India. It aggressively seeks the subjugation of 200 million Muslims, and the obliteration of India’s Islamic heritage," he said.

Sharif added that, along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Pakistan will work with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his special envoy to implement a plan of action to combat Islamophobia.