The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, issued a stern warning to India on Friday, emphasizing that "any attempt" to divert the waters of the Indus River that belong to Islamabad under the agreement signed in 1960 will be interpreted by Pakistani authorities as an "act of war."
"Water should never be used as a weapon. Rivers should nourish nations and not divide them. Any attempt to stop, hinder, or divert Pakistan's share of the waters will be considered an act of war. India must not make any mistakes," he stated before the UN General Assembly, which is celebrating its 81st session this year.
From New York, Sharif highlighted the "vital" relevance of the shared water resources of the Indus basin, not only for Pakistan but for the entire subcontinent, and insisted that the decision made last year by New Delhi to "suspend the existing treaty has no legal basis."
"In fact, its claims and actions have been rejected by UN experts and more recently by the Permanent Court of Arbitration," he recalled, before emphasizing that, for Islamabad, "the treaty remains valid, binding, and fully operational."
The head of the Pakistani government also denounced what he described as India's "external aggression" last year, referring to the exchange of bombings between the two countries in early May. "Our brave armed forces responded with professionalism, silenced the enemy (...) and taught them a lesson they will never forget," he noted about the operation ordered by New Delhi primarily against the area of Kashmir administered by Pakistan.
Sharif took the opportunity to express his recognition to then-President of the United States, Donald Trump, for "his resolute and visionary leadership (that) saved millions of lives."
"His timely intervention came at a decisive turning point when two neighboring countries with nuclear weapons were on the brink of open war. And who knows the extent of the devastation that would have occurred had President Trump not intervened at that critical moment," he indicated, while demanding that it be ensured "that South Asia never again comes to the brink of that precipice."
In this context, he has demanded a "just solution" to the Kashmir issue and, in particular, "that the United Nations fulfill its commitment to a free and impartial plebiscite under its auspices," as stated in a resolution approved in 1948.
Sharif has lamented that, since then, "generations have endured illegal occupations, arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and collective punishment" and the "attempt to alter the legal status" of Jammu-Kashmir.
To the population of the region, the prime minister has promised that Islamabad will use "all our diplomatic, political, and moral tools to support them until they have the right to self-determination." "Kashmir has been and will always be the jugular vein of Pakistan," he emphasized.
Alert on terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan
In another part of his speech, the leader has focused on the threat of terrorism, which, he recalled, "has sacrificed almost 100,000 lives" in Pakistan and has generated "economic losses exceeding 150 billion dollars."
"As a frontline state in the fight against the threat of terrorism, we have fought terrorists in our own cities, in our own mountains, and along our borders," he defended, assuring that "the world is safer today thanks" to the Pakistani Armed Forces.
Despite this, he has warned that neighboring Afghanistan continues to serve as a refuge for Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP), known as Pakistani Taliban, and the separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which, he denounced, "operate" from Afghan territory "with the aim of destabilizing Pakistan."
"All these attacks, including incursions from Afghan territory, must be stopped appropriately. Afghan authorities must fulfill their international commitments and take verifiable and decisive actions to ensure that Afghan soil is never again used against Pakistan or any other country," he demanded, addressing Kabul.
Tension in the Middle East and Pakistan's mediation
Sharif has also addressed the escalation in the Middle East following the offensive initiated in February by the United States and Israel against Iran, lamenting that, as a consequence, "valuable lives have been lost, economies have suffered, and vital maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, have been under severe pressure."
The prime minister has claimed the mediating role of his Government, which "decided to act quickly" and "managed to bring Washington and Tehran under the same roof in Islamabad."
"From the conversations in Islamabad to the memorandum of understanding (from last June), many historic steps have been taken to end this serious conflict," he highlighted, thanking the chief of Pakistan's Defense, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, for their involvement.
The leader has warned of "a dangerous resurgence of hostilities" in the region and has asked that "amid the roar of missiles, drones, and gunfire, the voice of diplomacy must resonate even more strongly."
He has also defended that the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el Mandeb "must remain open, connecting countries (...) carrying the promise of prosperity and not the dangers of war" and has condemned the attacks carried out in recent weeks by the Houthi rebels of Yemen against Saudi territory, expressing his support for Saudi Arabia.
"The attacks on Mecca have outraged all Muslims around the world," he stated, emphasizing that it is "a red line that must never be crossed."
In this regard, he has reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the Joint Defense Agreement of Mecca, signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and has reiterated that this alliance "is not directed against any country."