Water must never be weaponised; terror attacks from Afghan territory must end: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of water as a vital resource for millions on Tuesday, urging that it must never be weaponized or used for political coercion. He reminded the attendees at the SCO Plus Format meeting that the treaties governing shared waters are binding commitments that must be upheld. The Prime Minister addressed the meeting, focused on the UN's role in a just world order, following the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remains valid.

Under his leadership, Pakistan has been actively contributing to global peace efforts over the past two years as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The meeting, chaired by Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Zhaparov, saw Pakistan sign the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which aims to end conflict in the Gulf region and serves as a basis for peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

Pakistan is also a signatory to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, further enhancing regional unity. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of reforming the United Nations, calling for it to become more accountable and responsive, especially in light of the dire situation in Gaza and the West Bank. He also condemned terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism, and emphasized that achieving regional connectivity requires peace and stability in Afghanistan.

During his tenure as SCO Chairmanship, Pakistan will focus on IT & AI, energy, development, poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture, and sports. The Prime Minister invited participating leaders to attend the next format session in Islamabad in 2027.