Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly criticized India for allegedly attempting to weaponize water against Pakistan, calling it “unacceptable and regrettable.”
Speaking at the Trilateral Summit in Lachin alongside leaders from Türkiye and Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister said, “Water is the lifeline for 240 million Pakistanis, and India’s threats to block our water can never be allowed to materialize.”
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s stance as a peace-loving nation, stating that despite tensions, Pakistan has always advocated dialogue and diplomacy. “We want to resolve all issues, including Kashmir, through negotiations. The resolution of the Kashmir dispute must align with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and UN Security Council resolutions,” he said.
Shehbaz also condemned India's reaction to the Pulwama incident, saying, “India blamed Pakistan without evidence and used the incident as a pretext for aggression. We offered cooperation for investigation, but India chose confrontation.”
Highlighting Pakistan's role in the global fight against terrorism, he said, “Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by terrorism. We have sacrificed over 90,000 lives in the war against terror. Our resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms remains unshakable.”
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the continued support from Türkiye and Azerbaijan, calling them “true friends” of Pakistan. “The three nations are bound together by shared values, religion, culture, and history. We stand united for justice, peace, and high moral principles,” he said.
He praised the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in addressing the PKK issue and thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his warm hospitality. He reiterated the countries’ shared commitment to supporting each other on key global issues including Kashmir, Karabakh, and Cyprus.
“The trilateral summit is a reaffirmation of our resolve to take our friendship and cooperation to new heights,” Prime Minister Shehbaz concluded.
