‘No Peace Without Kashmir’: Pakistan’s PM Links Normalisation with India to Disputed Region
London/Islamabad — Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared that there can be no normalisation of ties with India until the Kashmir dispute is resolved, reviving one of the region’s most intractable flashpoints ahead of his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Speaking to members of the Pakistani diaspora in London, Shehbaz said the two nuclear-armed neighbours “must learn to live together” but insisted dialogue must be based on equality and justice.
“Pakistan and India have fought four wars, wasting billions of dollars that should have been spent on our people’s development,” he said. “The blood of Kashmiris will not go in vain.”
UNGA agenda
The prime minister will travel to New York later in the day to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 80th session of the UNGA. His speech on September 26 is expected to focus on Kashmir, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and calls for stronger international action on climate change, terrorism, and Islamophobia.
Shehbaz is also scheduled to meet world leaders on the sidelines, including a gathering of select Islamic leaders with US President Donald Trump, and will participate in events on climate action, global development, and regional security.
Parallel with Palestine
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the prime minister will highlight what Islamabad describes as “prolonged occupations and denial of self-determination” in both Indian-administered Kashmir and Palestine. He is expected to link the crises in Gaza and Kashmir as parallel struggles requiring urgent international intervention.
Desire for peace, but on Pakistan’s terms
Despite his hard line on Kashmir, Shehbaz struck a conciliatory note, saying Pakistan remains willing to engage India in talks if New Delhi treats Islamabad as an equal partner. “We are neighbours, and we cannot change geography,” he said.
Pakistan’s position on Kashmir — which both countries claim in full but control in part — remains a longstanding barrier to meaningful dialogue. India insists the region’s status is an internal matter, especially since New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in 2019, a move Pakistan rejected.
Showcasing multilateral role
Shehbaz will use the UNGA platform to underline Pakistan’s role as a member of the UN Security Council and to stress Islamabad’s support for multilateralism. Officials say his meetings in New York will focus on security cooperation, development partnerships, and mobilising support for climate-vulnerable nations.
Analysts note that the timing of his remarks — just before his UN speech — signals Islamabad’s intent to place Kashmir firmly back on the global diplomatic agenda, despite New Delhi’s resistance.
