Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York marked a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s foreign policy narrative. It was not merely a speech of condemnation or lament; it was a carefully calibrated articulation of a foreign policy rooted in principle yet attuned to the demands of pragmatism. From calling out war crimes in Gaza and illegal occupation in Kashmir to inviting global investment in Pakistan’s economy, Sharif’s message reflected a country seeking to shape global conversations on justice, security, and development — not just react to them.
At the heart of his address was a moral indictment of Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza. Sharif described it as a “systematic slaughter” and “an assault on the very essence of human life and dignity.” Nearly a year after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people, Tel Aviv’s military campaign has resulted in more than 41,000 Palestinian deaths, the displacement of almost the entire 2.3 million population, and a catastrophic hunger crisis. The violence has even spilled over into Lebanon, where over 500 people have been killed in just a few days.
But Sharif’s address did not stop at Palestine. He broadened the scope to expose another longstanding injustice: India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Echoing Pakistan’s consistent stance, he highlighted that the people of Kashmir have been denied their right to self-determination as guaranteed by UN Security Council resolutions, which mandate a plebiscite. Since August 5, 2019, India has pursued a “classic settler-colonial project,” revoking Kashmir’s special status, stationing 900,000 troops in the region, imposing draconian curfews, conducting extrajudicial killings, and settling outsiders to change the region’s demographic character.
By linking Gaza and Kashmir in the same speech, Sharif framed both as manifestations of a deeper problem: the erosion of the international order’s credibility due to selective enforcement of international law. Illegal occupations and systemic oppression, he argued, “create a fresh hell every day” — whether in the ruins of Gaza or the valleys of Kashmir. His critique was not only directed at the perpetrators but also at the global community that allows such violations to persist.
Yet, while the speech was anchored in principle, it was equally notable for its pragmatic tone on global cooperation and domestic reform. Sharif spoke of Pakistan’s decades-long struggle against terrorism, during which the country lost 80,000 lives and suffered $150 billion in economic losses. While Pakistan successfully dismantled many terrorist groups, it now faces a new wave of externally-financed terrorism, particularly from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Through Azm-i-Istehkam, Sharif pledged a comprehensive national effort to eliminate this threat and called for reform of the global counterterrorism architecture — signalling Pakistan’s intent to remain a central partner in global security efforts.
He also addressed another global challenge: the alarming rise of Islamophobia. Desecration of the Holy Quran, attacks on mosques, and stereotyping of Muslims, he warned, are becoming disturbingly frequent. The “most alarming manifestation” of this trend, Sharif said, is Hindu supremacy in India, which seeks to subjugate 200 million Muslims. Pakistan, he announced, will work with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN to develop an action plan against this rising tide of hatred and discrimination.
Beyond principles and security, Sharif’s visit to New York had a strong economic dimension. In meetings with executives from JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Lazard, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, and others, he invited American banks to invest in key sectors of Pakistan’s economy, including infrastructure, energy, technology, and agriculture. A major highlight was Pakistan’s plan to launch a Sustainable Finance Framework, which would pave the way for the issuance of green sustainability bonds in international capital markets. These initiatives, coupled with efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises to boost exports, signal Pakistan’s determination to transform its economy from within while positioning itself as an attractive investment destination.
Sharif’s extensive bilateral meetings — with leaders from Iraq, Nepal, Kuwait, Turkiye, Bangladesh, and the European Union, as well as with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva — reinforced Pakistan’s role as a proactive diplomatic player. Discussions spanned issues from climate finance to regional stability, showcasing a foreign policy that seeks to blend moral advocacy with constructive engagement.
Sharif ended his speech with the poem “Don’t You Quit,” a metaphor for Pakistan’s perseverance amid adversity. That perseverance is now being channelled into a foreign policy that balances resistance to injustice with readiness for cooperation. In a world fractured by conflict and inequality, Pakistan’s message was clear: principle and pragmatism must walk hand in hand — and that is precisely what Islamabad intends to do.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York marked a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s foreign policy narrative. It was not merely a speech of condemnation or lament; it was a carefully calibrated articulation of a foreign policy rooted in principle yet attuned to the demands of pragmatism. From calling out war crimes in Gaza and illegal occupation in Kashmir to inviting global investment in Pakistan’s economy, Sharif’s message reflected a country seeking to shape global conversations on justice, security, and development — not just react to them.
At the heart of his address was a moral indictment of Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza. Sharif described it as a “systematic slaughter” and “an assault on the very essence of human life and dignity.” Nearly a year after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people, Tel Aviv’s military campaign has resulted in more than 41,000 Palestinian deaths, the displacement of almost the entire 2.3 million population, and a catastrophic hunger crisis. The violence has even spilled over into Lebanon, where over 500 people have been killed in just a few days.
But Sharif’s address did not stop at Palestine. He broadened the scope to expose another longstanding injustice: India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Echoing Pakistan’s consistent stance, he highlighted that the people of Kashmir have been denied their right to self-determination as guaranteed by UN Security Council resolutions, which mandate a plebiscite. Since August 5, 2019, India has pursued a “classic settler-colonial project,” revoking Kashmir’s special status, stationing 900,000 troops in the region, imposing draconian curfews, conducting extrajudicial killings, and settling outsiders to change the region’s demographic character.
By linking Gaza and Kashmir in the same speech, Sharif framed both as manifestations of a deeper problem: the erosion of the international order’s credibility due to selective enforcement of international law. Illegal occupations and systemic oppression, he argued, “create a fresh hell every day” — whether in the ruins of Gaza or the valleys of Kashmir. His critique was not only directed at the perpetrators but also at the global community that allows such violations to persist.
Yet, while the speech was anchored in principle, it was equally notable for its pragmatic tone on global cooperation and domestic reform. Sharif spoke of Pakistan’s decades-long struggle against terrorism, during which the country lost 80,000 lives and suffered $150 billion in economic losses. While Pakistan successfully dismantled many terrorist groups, it now faces a new wave of externally-financed terrorism, particularly from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Through Azm-i-Istehkam, Sharif pledged a comprehensive national effort to eliminate this threat and called for reform of the global counterterrorism architecture — signalling Pakistan’s intent to remain a central partner in global security efforts.
He also addressed another global challenge: the alarming rise of Islamophobia. Desecration of the Holy Quran, attacks on mosques, and stereotyping of Muslims, he warned, are becoming disturbingly frequent. The “most alarming manifestation” of this trend, Sharif said, is Hindu supremacy in India, which seeks to subjugate 200 million Muslims. Pakistan, he announced, will work with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN to develop an action plan against this rising tide of hatred and discrimination.
Beyond principles and security, Sharif’s visit to New York had a strong economic dimension. In meetings with executives from JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Lazard, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, and others, he invited American banks to invest in key sectors of Pakistan’s economy, including infrastructure, energy, technology, and agriculture. A major highlight was Pakistan’s plan to launch a Sustainable Finance Framework, which would pave the way for the issuance of green sustainability bonds in international capital markets. These initiatives, coupled with efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises to boost exports, signal Pakistan’s determination to transform its economy from within while positioning itself as an attractive investment destination.
Sharif’s extensive bilateral meetings — with leaders from Iraq, Nepal, Kuwait, Turkiye, Bangladesh, and the European Union, as well as with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva — reinforced Pakistan’s role as a proactive diplomatic player. Discussions spanned issues from climate finance to regional stability, showcasing a foreign policy that seeks to blend moral advocacy with constructive engagement.
Sharif ended his speech with the poem “Don’t You Quit,” a metaphor for Pakistan’s perseverance amid adversity. That perseverance is now being channelled into a foreign policy that balances resistance to injustice with readiness for cooperation. In a world fractured by conflict and inequality, Pakistan’s message was clear: principle and pragmatism must walk hand in hand — and that is precisely what Islamabad intends to do.
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