Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has said on Saturday that India, having suffered a defeat in last year’s conflict, had increasingly turned to covert tactics and the use of proxies to destabilise Pakistan.
Addressing the passing out parade at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi, he also touched on terrorism from the western border, Kashmir and Pakistan’s role in brokering the United States (US)-Iran deal.
“Our eastern neighbour, having suffered a humiliating defeat in the conflict in May last year, has increasingly resorted to covert tactics and the use of proxies in an attempt to undermine the hard-earned peace and stability in our country,” he said.
He added that Pakistan’s armed forces were simultaneously fighting foreign-sponsored terrorism coming from the western borders, and that the entire nation stood behind them in that effort.
“The entire country remains steadfast in its iron resolve to defeat the nefarious designs of our enemies, while continuing to pursue peace, dialogue and diplomacy to address all outstanding disputes,” he said.
The prime minister also spoke about Pakistan’s mediation role.
“Pakistan’s sincere mediation efforts with the support of brotherly and friendly countries led to the historic signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, which I also had the honour of signing as a mediator,” he said.
He paid tribute to Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir for his “untiring efforts to bring all parties together to follow the path of peace and tranquillity” and referred to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent visit to Pakistan as an acknowledgment of the country’s standing as a regional peacemaker.
On maritime security, PM Shehbaz said that the evolving regional situation had underscored how critical free passage and freedom of navigation had become.
“Today, the right of free passage and freedom of navigation are no longer luxuries but have become an absolute necessity for the entire world,” he said.
He assured that the government remained committed to strengthening the Pakistan Navy as a stabilising force in the wider maritime region.
