ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday reiterated that Pakistan always wanted peace in the region and was willing to discuss all bilateral issues with India on the negotiating table if it (India) showed sincerity of purpose and cooperation.
Addressing the second Trilateral Summit in Lachin city of Azerbaijan, the PM referred to the recent aggression of India and said that with Allah Almighty’s infinite blessings and kindness, with the support of people of Pakistan, and friendly countries, and resolute response of the armed forces, they emerged victorious. He detailed Pakistan’s military response, describing the downing of six Indian fighter jets, including four Rafales, and significant damage to Indian military installations.
In his speech, telecast live on national TV channels, the prime minister said unfortunately, India tried to weaponise the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which was lifeline for 240 million population of Pakistan. It uses water for agriculture, drinking and other purposes. “It is most unfortunate that India threatened to stop the flow of waters into Pakistan. This is not possible; this is never possible and will not be possible Insha-Allah.
“We are making proper arrangements to ensure that India never ever does it,” he emphatically added.
The PM said that Pakistan wanted peace in the region and that required talks on the table to discuss the issues that needed urgent attention and amicable solution like the issue of Kashmir, which should be resolved according to the UNSC resolutions and as per aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
The PM said if India wanted talks on countering terrorism, Pakistan would be willing to hold talks on this issue as well. “We are the biggest victim of terrorism around the globe and lost 90,000 valuable lives and suffered 150-billion dollar worth of economic losses over the last many decades.
“There can be no bigger manifestation of our commitment and intention to beat this menace for all times to come,” he added.
If India showed serious and honest cooperation, he said, Pakistan would be willing to discuss all issues, including promotion of trade with India, on the negotiating table.
The prime minister appreciated the role of Field Marshal Asim Munir who, he said, led the armed forces of Pakistan to fight with great bravery and the highest level of professional acumen, while the entire nation was standing behind them.
The prime minister said during the conflict with India, he found the Field Marshal as ‘God-fearing, fearless, firm with iron resolve, patience and fortitude, to face that aggression’. He reiterated that during the recent conflict, India failed to bring out any credible evidence against Pakistan and rejected their sincere offer for a neutral and transparent investigation into so-called Pahalgam incident by any international body.
The PM said during their previous trilateral format, the three countries held very fruitful discussions on the issues of mutual interests and hoped that their session in Lachin city would take their cooperation to new heights, consonance with the wishes and desires of the peoples of three countries.
He said it would be no surprise to anyone that Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan were bound together with historical, cultural and spiritual ties spanning over centuries. This historic friendship was strengthened with the passage of time and they stood together with each other whether it was Nagorno-Karabakh, Northern Cyprus and Kashmir issues. The PM, while highlighting the deepening bonds among the three countries, declared them “three souls and one heart”.
The PM said it was natural that their people were bound together with love and passion, supporting their common objectives. Their people had given them their support with outpouring of love and affection.
He also highlighted that today, the world faced numerous grave challenges including armed conflicts, diseases, climate change and economic crises and they had assembled there opting for compassion while rejecting conflicts. They were confident that the passion and wisdom would ultimately usher in an era of peace and prosperity, he added.
In today’s unpredictable volatile world, PM Sharif said political security, connectivity, alignments and emerging technology were shaping the new reality, and in such a situation, Pakistan was very fortunate to have sincere brothers like Turkiye and Azerbaijan, who stood with them as impregnable rocks and whom they could trust without any second thoughts.
“When Armenia attacked Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkiye stood like a rock beside it. And today, when India attacked Pakistan, President Erdogan and President Aliyev stood like a formidable fortress beside us. This is true brotherhood,” Shehbaz said.
They were always united in peace, justice and morality, he said, expressing his confidence that their time-tested relationship would not only prove beneficial to the well-being of their people but would also contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.
The PM said that the trilateral format was of great importance and significance that had given them “political ownership and impetus to move collectively in unison in all spheres of their common interests”.
He also expressed his gratitude to Turkish and Azerbaijan presidents for their firm stand and unwavering commitment to Pakistan during its conflict with India.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, in his remarks, said that the three countries were united on basis of their common and shared history, culture and religion. Turkiye and Pakistan extended moral support to his nation for which he was thankful to them, he said and highlighted the significance of solidarity and unity for development of their nations by tapping resources to achieve their shared goals. He said Azerbaijan wanted to advance its cooperation through joint ventures and envisaged $2 billion investment in Pakistan’s economy with specific development projects.
President Aliyev stressed joint cooperation over AI, space exploration, academic collaboration, cultural events and tourism links to enhance ties between their peoples. He said that tensions between Pakistan and India troubled them most and they expressed solidarity with Pakistan, adding that dialogue and negotiations under the UN charter were a way to move forward.
Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech, congratulated Azerbaijan on the Independence Day and said that the three brotherly countries were linked with mutual trust and confidence. Their ties were being strengthened and they were striving to translating their trilateral relationship into strategic cooperation, he added. He hoped the region would become focus of peace, stability and prosperity.
Referring to recent visit of PM Shehbaz Sharif to Istanbul, President Erdogan said that they discussed the scope of high-level strategic council and historic ties. He congratulated the prime minister for prudent and wise approach during the conflict with India and said that the ceasefire had ended tensions between the two countries. He reiterated Turkiye’s contribution towards securing a permanent peace.
President Erdogan further underscored the different challenges faced by the world ranging from security threats to economic meltdown and stressed joint projects and cooperation among the three countries in trade facilitation, investment promotion and digital formation.
Separately, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), met Colonel General Hasanov Zakir Asgar Oglu, Minister of Defence, Azerbaijan, in Lachin, Azerbaijan.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics and ways to further enhance defence cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. The COAS appreciated the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening defence ties with Azerbaijan.