As New Delhi and Islamabad agreed to “full and immediate” ceasefire after days of military strikes, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted that Pakistan made a deliberate decision to pay in the same coin “which their enemy knew very well — with force”.
“Pakistan made it clear that the negotiations, which ought to take place at a table, would now be held on the battlefield,” the premier said while addressing the nation on Saturday night.
Taking the nation into confidence on regional security today, PM Shehbaz said that, considering the regional peace and the lives of millions of people living in this region, Pakistan, as a responsible state, responded positively to a ceasefire.
He expressed the hope that all the outstanding issues, including the water distribution, the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and all other unresolved issues, would now be settled through negotiations and a peaceful path.
The prime minister congratulated the entire nation from the core of his heart that they proved to the world their self-esteem and respect, which were dearer to them than their lives, adding, “If anyone challenges the sovereignty, they stand like an iron wall and overpower their enemies.”
“What the enemy did was a cowardly and shameful act, a naked aggression,” but the brave and bold forces, with a display of professionalism, gave a very effective response which would always be remembered as a chapter in modern warfare.
He said on the pretext of the Pahalgam incident, India tried to drag Pakistan into a war, even though, without any delay, they had offered cooperation for an impartial and transparent global probe.
In the face of a flurry of false allegations and accusations, Pakistan showed restraint and patience, he said, adding India tried to infiltrate territories with drones and missile attacks upon innocent people, mosques, and civilians, tried their patience with botched attacks on military installations and water resources.
He commended the armed forces of Pakistan, whose Jawans were alien to the word of ‘defeat’.
Within a few hours, he said their forces silenced the enemy’s guns and the world would remember how they turned the enemy’s air bases, installations, and stockpiles into ashes. “Rafale also failed in the encounter.”
The prime minister said that their fight was against that old mind frame of religious bigotry. “It is a victory for truth and our principles,” he said, adding that they did to an enemy what deemed fit by a respected nation.
“The 240 million people of the country showered their love and affection upon their valiant armed forces and stood side by side with them during the conflict,” he added.
He also thanked the nation for their prayers for the success of their armed forces and said that as a result, Allah Almighty had bestowed upon them a tremendous victory.
On this historic victory, he paid tribute to Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and every officer and personnel of the armed forces.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to General Syed Asim Munir, on his behalf and on behalf of the entire nation, for his sagacious and bold leadership that led to victory, besides appreciating the Air Chief and his eagles who had made them proud.
‘PM thanks Trump, friendly nations’
The prime minister thanked US President Trump for his sincere role in the ceasefire.
He also thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkiye, Qatar, the UK, UN Secretary General and others who played their due role in the ceasefire.
The premier especially mentioned Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Mohamed bin Zayed, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and President Tayyip Erdogan, who stood with Pakistan like brothers.
He expressed gratitude to the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people, for their unprecedented and historic support.
