Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that foreign powers had used terrorism in Pakistan for political purposes. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, he pointed to evidence of outside involvement in attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Jaffar Express incident. He said terrorism threatened the whole region and those responsible must be held accountable.
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The prime minister said Pakistan seeks peace through dialogue and not confrontation with its neighbors. He stressed that talks were the only way to bring stability to South Asia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s respect for sovereignty and international agreements. He also underlined the importance of a peaceful Afghanistan for regional prosperity and said Pakistan was working to improve ties with Kabul.
Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling them unacceptable, and repeated Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution. He also denounced Israel’s attack on Iran, saying only dialogue could resolve such disputes.
He praised China’s leadership and said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was a successful model of cooperation. He noted that Pakistan had shown resilience despite floods, climate change, and economic challenges, highlighting recent improvements in inflation, trade balance, and the stock market.
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The SCO summit later issued a declaration emphasizing respect for sovereignty, rejecting bloc politics, and calling for reforms in the United Nations to better represent developing countries. Leaders also agreed to strengthen regional cooperation in security, economy, and cultural exchange to ensure stability and prosperity across Eurasia.