Islamabad — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday urged the world not to overlook the humanitarian crises in Palestine and Indian-administered Kashmir, warning that lasting peace will remain “elusive” until the people of both regions are granted their right to self-determination.
The appeal came as the world observed the International Day of Peace, a UN-designated occasion marked annually on September 21 to promote reconciliation and halt conflict.
“Grave humanitarian tragedies cannot be ignored in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the occupied Palestinian territories,” Sharif said in a on World Peace Day. He added that the right to self-determination, enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions, was essential for durable peace.
Pakistan has consistently condemned Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched in October 2023, which has killed more than 65,000 people and displaced the majority of the enclave’s population, according to Gaza authorities. On Saturday, Israeli forces carried out new raids in Gaza City, killing at least 60 Palestinians and destroying high-rise buildings and tunnels.
The conflict has also triggered competing claims about displacement. Israel estimates that more than half a million residents have fled Gaza City this month, while Hamas maintains that roughly 900,000 remain, including Israeli hostages.
Sharif said Pakistan was ready to contribute to global peace initiatives and called on the international community to “join hands in the struggle for peace, justice and humanity.”
President Asif Ali Zardari echoed the message, saying Pakistan’s contributions to regional and global stability were “recognized worldwide.”
Islamabad has also drawn parallels between Gaza and Kashmir, where Pakistan accuses India of rights violations in the Himalayan territory. India, which denies the allegations, controls part of the region and has fought two wars with Pakistan over it.
