When Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif rose to address the United Nations General Assembly, he carried with him not just the weight of Pakistan’s diplomatic posture, but also the voice of millions of Kashmiris whose suffering echoes across the mountains and valleys. His speech was bold, resolute, and unapologetic — a clarion call to the world: that Kashmir is not a mere “dispute,” but a lived injustice, an open wound demanding international attention.
Key Highlights from the Speech
Here are some of the boldest and most consequential statements from Sharif’s address:
| Topic | What Sharif Said | Why It Resonates |
|---|---|---|
| Unprovoked aggression & self-defense | He accused India of launching unprovoked aggression from the east, violating Pakistan’s territorial integrity, and claimed that Pakistan’s response was within its right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. | It frames Pakistan not as an aggressor but as a defender of its sovereignty and people. |
| Kashmir and the right to self-determination | He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Kashmiris, stating: “I stand with them, Pakistan stands with them,” and reiterated that India’s “tyranny in Kashmir will someday come to a halt.” | This echoes the sentiments of many Kashmiris who feel abandoned or voiceless on the global stage. |
| Indus Waters Treaty & "act of war" | Sharif strongly criticized India’s attempt to suspend participation in the Indus Waters Treaty (after a terror strike in Pahalgam), warning that such a unilateral move constitutes an act of war. | Water, rivers, and treaties are lifelines; when those are threatened, it becomes existential for Pakistan and its people. |
| Terrorism and hypocrisy | He condemned terrorism in all its forms, while challenging India’s narrative and asserting that Pakistan has suffered repeatedly from external aggressions masked as “counterterrorism.” | It attempts to reclaim moral high ground, placing the burden of proof on India’s oft-repeated accusations. |
These points, though fiercely contested, reflect a bold diplomatic gambit: Sharif is saying that Pakistan will no longer allow Kashmir to be whispered about behind closed doors. It will be held up, loudly and proudly, in global forums.
Why This Speech Matters — for Kashmir and Pakistan
1. Moral & Political Support for Kashmiris
For many Kashmiris — whether in Indian-administered Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, or the diaspora — the speech sends a message: You are not forgotten. The world is being asked to bear witness. That symbolic validation is important, especially when human rights violations, curfews, disappearances, or crackdowns are daily realities.
2. Diplomatic Repositioning
Pakistan, under Sharif’s leadership, is signaling that it intends to be proactive, not reactive. By bringing Kashmir, water treaties, and alleged Indian aggression into the UN spotlight, Islamabad aims to reframe the narrative — from “terrorism exporter” to “defender of oppressed people.”
3. Domestic Political Capital
Within Pakistan, this is a powerful play. It rallies nationalist sentiment, unites public opinion around Kashmir, and positions Sharif as a statesman capable of representing the national will, not just managing domestic affairs.
4. International Leverage
By asserting Kashmir in the UN forum, Pakistan hopes to draw in neutral or sympathetic actors — from Muslim-majority states to nonaligned nations — to push for fact-finding missions, resolutions, or at least sustained global attention. Sharif’s speech is, in effect, a diplomatic tool to prod the international community into action.
Tone Toward the Kashmiri Resistance & Aspirations
Particularly poignant in Sharif’s speech was his language of solidarity. He did not frame Kashmir as merely a geographical footnote, but as a people — people who deserve dignity, rights, and a say in their destiny. For Kashmiris, this posture is not just welcome, it is essential.
When a Pakistani Prime Minister — addressing the world — states that he "stands with the Kashmiri people," it transforms the issue from regional rivalry to shared moral responsibility. It gives legitimacy to the aspirations of Kashmiris who feel silenced.
But action must follow words: pressure, resolutions, diplomatic engagements, and, above all, ensuring that human rights violations in Kashmir are continuously exposed.
Final Thoughts: A Speech, Not the Endgame
Mian Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the UN is a powerful step. It refashions Pakistan’s global posture on Kashmir from defensive to assertive. It gives moral voice to Kashmiris. And it tests the international community’s appetite for justice.
Yet, speeches do not change facts on the ground. The real test will be whether Pakistan can convert diplomatic rhetoric into sustained pressure — in the UN, the Security Council, human rights bodies — all while safeguarding peace, avoiding miscalculation, and ensuring that Kashmiris’ dignity, rights, and lives are never again silenced.
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