PM Shehbaz Says Holy Mosques Are Pakistan’s Red Line, Calls for Kashmir Plebiscite

NEW YORK:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has told the international community that the sanctity and security of Islam’s holiest sites, Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, are a red line for Pakistan, stressing that no compromise will be made on their protection.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the prime minister said he was representing 240 million peaceful Pakistanis at the global forum. He strongly condemned recent attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed concern over an attempted drone attack targeting Makkah.

“Haramein Sharifain is a red line for us, and there will be no compromise on their sanctity and security,” Prime Minister Shehbaz said, adding that the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia had caused deep concern among Muslims around the world.

He said the “Makkah Agreement” was not directed against any country but was aimed at promoting peace and security in the region.

Referring to the conflict in the Gulf and Middle East, the prime minister said Islamabad’s efforts to bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table had marked a significant diplomatic development. He said the efforts of Field Marshal Asim Munir had helped create space for diplomacy.

He stressed that the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, which are vital to the global economy, must remain open.

Speaking about tensions with India, Prime Minister Shehbaz said India had attacked Pakistan on what he described as a false pretext, while Pakistan exercised its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

He said Pakistan confronted India under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir and gave a strong response. He also credited US President Donald Trump’s leadership with helping prevent further escalation, saying that millions of lives in South Asia were saved as the two nuclear-armed countries had been on the brink of war.

The prime minister stressed that efforts must be made to ensure South Asia does not again reach such a dangerous situation.

He called for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and said a plebiscite should be held in Kashmir under the auspices of the United Nations. He alleged that collective punishment was being imposed in Kashmir and that attempts were being made to alter the region’s demographics.

Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri people, saying that the country would continue to stand by them.

On the Indus Waters Treaty, he said water resources were meant for the benefit of the entire region. He alleged that India’s unilateral attempt to suspend the treaty had not been accepted by international institutions, and stressed that water could not be used as a weapon.

He warned that any attempt to stop or divert Pakistan’s water would be considered an act of war.

The prime minister also condemned what he described as Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Syria.

Addressing the issue of regional security, he said Pakistan’s armed forces and citizens had contributed to maintaining peace. He alleged that the Afghan territory was being used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Fitna al-Khawarij, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and what he referred to as “Fitna-e-Hindustan.”

He called for an end to all attacks originating from Afghan territory, stressing that regional peace required concrete action to prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil.