Pakistani premier addresses trilateral summit along with Turkish President Erdogan, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev in Lachin
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Islamabad wants peace in South Asia through an amicable solution to the long-simmering Kashmir dispute and water issues with neighboring India.
Addressing a trilateral summit along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan's Lachin city, Sharif said Islamabad wants peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the "concerned" UN Security Council resolutions, and the wishes of Kashmir people.
Commenting on the unilateral suspension of the 1960 water-sharing agreement, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), by New Delhi last month, Sharif said the Indus water was a “lifeline for Pakistan's 240 million people.”
He said Pakistan would be willing to discuss all issues, along with the promotion of trade with India.
"We want peace in the region and that requires talks on the table on issues which need urgent attention and amicable resolution, that is issue of Kashmir according to UN Security Council resolutions and according to aspirations of Kashmiris," Sharif said.
India, he said, “tries to weaponize” Indus Waters Treaty which is lifeline for 240 million people, calling it the "most unfortunate” move by India which tries to “threaten” Pakistan by stopping flow of water to Pakistan.
“We are making proper arrangements to ensure that India never ever does it,” he maintained.
New Delhi suspended the decades-long treaty last month in the aftermath of April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir which resulted in death of 26 people.
India said the attack had “cross border links” to Pakistan but Islamabad denied and offered a neutral probe.
Sharif thanked "sincere brothers" Türkiye and Azerbaijan for their support to Pakistan during recent hostilities with India, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.
"Pakistan is fortunate for having sincere friends like Türkiye and Azerbaijan, which stood together with us as impregnable rocks who we can trust without a second thought,” said Sharif.
He said the "historical" relationship between the three allies has been further strengthened as "we have stood by each other, whether it be on Karabakh, Kashmir or Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Our strength lies in our solidarity and mutual respect."
"The world we live in faces numerous grave challenges, including armed conflict, climate change, diseases and economic crises. This is why the three of us have assembled here today, opting for compassion while rejecting conflict. We are confident that patience and wisdom will ultimately usher in peace and prosperity," Sharif said.
