Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged a stronger regional cooperation against the growing geopolitical tensions, including the conflict of Iran-Israel and Indian hostility towards Pakistan, stressing that the Organization for Economic Cooperation (ECO) offered the country its “best hope” for a unified response.
Going to the 17th ecological summit in the city of Khankendi of Azerbaijan, the prime minister said that two recent events, the War of Iran and Israel and the conflict of India-Pakistan, showed that “the forces of instability and chaos continue to destabilize our region for geopolitical agendas.
“The evolving global panorama has made regional cooperation even more essential,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz, heading to the 10 nations Euroasy block. “Eco represents our best hope, and Pakistan is a proud partner in these collective efforts.”
Speaking about the 12-day Iran-Israel war, he said that “the illegal Israeli attack, without justified and unjustified against Iran was the most recent manifestation of this dangerous trend.”
According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, at least 627 people were killed and 4,870 wounds in Israeli strikes.
“Pakistan condemns this act of Israeli aggression against Iran and offers our condolences to the martyrs,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also condemned the recent Indian aggression against the attempts of Pakistan and New Delhi to arm themselves with water sustaining Indo Water Treaty in suspense.
“Indian hostility not caused and impruder directed to Pakistan after an unfortunate incident in the assight illegally occupied by India was another attempt to destabilize regional peace.
“The world saw the firm determination of our armed forces under the leadership of the Munir Marshal and the unwavering spirit of our resistant people who remained firm before provocation and responded with courage and professionalism.”
India had launched missile attacks in several Pakistani cities after without fundamentally accusing Islamabad to support an attack against the city of Pahalgam de Kashmiro, which saw the murder of 26 tourists on April 22.
In response, Pakistan knocked down five Indian planes and launched retaliation strikes in India. On May 10, the intervention for both countries reached the fire.
“We are witnessing a new and alarming tendency with the Water weapon of India, the illegal attempt to challenge the Water Treaty of the Indo -feded Indo by the World Bank and its flagrant contempt for the recent decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) are unacceptable and must be rejected with contempt.”
Last week, the PCA in The Hague issued a “supplementary competition prize” in the case of the India waters, stating that India cannot unilaterally keep the treaty in suspense. However, India “categorically rejected” the PCA supplementary award and declared that he did not recognize the court itself.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Indo’s waters were the life line of the 240 million people of Pakistan and that India cannot be allowed to “follow this dangerous path that will be considered as an act of aggression by the people of Pakistan.”
The prime minister also expressed concerns about the situation in Gaza and the Israeli attacks in progress there, which have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023.
“The world is witnessing an unprecedented artificial catastrophe in Gaza, a region that has descended to an abyss of perpetual suffering,” said the prime minister.
“It is as if humanity no longer exists, since famine sits, while humanitarian workers, including UN staff, are being attacked with impunity by Israel to cut the only lifeguard of helpless and hungry people of Gaza.”
He said that Pakistan firmly faced those who “perpetrated barbarian acts against innocent people, either in Gaza, occupied Kashmir or Iran.”
Regarding the effects of climate change, the prime minister said that Pakistan had undertaken a series of climate -related policy initiatives focused on resilience, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the government (4RF).
He proposed the development of low -emission corridors, ecological carbon market platforms and a regional disaster resistance system.
Early in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz held a bilateral meeting with the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, regardless of the Eco Summit.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction for the progress made with respect to the investment perspectives and agreed to improve cooperation in the fields of commerce and investment.
They reiterated their resolution to strengthen the economic association, especially the investment of Azerbaijan in Pakistan, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.
Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed that the recent interactions between the leadership of both countries helped make the relationship even stronger. He also invited President Aliyev to visit Pakistan.
In an X publication, the prime minister said he congratulated President Aliyev for “successfully organizing the summit and praised the proactive role of Azerbaijan in Eco.”
He said that “they reviewed the progress in the bilateral ties of Pakistan-Azerbaijan, which are strengthened through our frequent and productive high level exchanges.”
“We reaffirm our commitment to deepen cooperation in various sectors, particularly trade and investment,” he added.
The prime minister also met with the president of Iran, Masoud Peeshkian, discussed the regional developments after the recent Israel-Iran War, said a statement issued by the Press Information Department.
“During the meeting, both leaders reviewed the ongoing bilateral cooperation in all areas and expressed their satisfaction with the progress made in the decisions taken during their last meeting for a greater strengthening of Pakistan-Iran’s relations,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated Pezeshkian’s leadership and praised Iran’s decision to reach fire during the recent conflict, according to the press release.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the “unwavering solidarity” of Pakistan with the government and the people of Iran, as well as his strong commitment to continue working closely with Iran for “peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.”
“President Pezeshkian appreciated the strong diplomatic support of Pakistan to Iran, even in international forums, during the crisis and thanked Pakistan’s vital role in reducing the conflict,” according to the statement.
The prime minister asked the Iranian President to transmit his warm greetings and good wishes for Supreme Leader Ayatolá Ali Khamenei, he added.
The prime minister also met President Uzbek, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
“We agreed to deepen our solid association, in all areas of mutual interest, especially in trade, connectivity, energy, culture and the trans-factan rail project.”
Azerbaijan Ink $ 2 billion investments in the economic sector of Pakistan
Later, Azerbaijan signed an agreement with Pakistan to invest $ 2 billion in his economic sector.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, and the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov, signed the agreement in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz and a Pakistani delegation.
“After a pleasant meeting today in Khankendi between the prime minister and the president of Azerbaiyani, the agreement was signed between the two countries, while the final and detailed agreement will be signed during the visit of the president of Azerbaiyani to Pakistan,” ” Payment television reported.
Although it did not provide details, Payment television He informed that the agreement “raised investment and trade relations between the two countries to a historical level.”
