Web desk: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the time has come to make firm and correct decisions to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan once and for all.
He warned that the nation would not forgive any delay in taking decisive action.
“Khwarij come from neighbouring countries and spread sedition in Pakistan; we will never allow ‘fitnah’ in the country, Prime Minister,” he said while addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad.
The Prime Minister condemned the recent terrorist attack in Orakzai, where nine soldiers, including senior officers, were martyred.
“The Pakistan Army eliminated 19 terrorists of the Fitna-al-Khawarij in the operation,” he said, adding that he had attended the funeral of Major Sibtain Haider Shaheed earlier in the day.
Shehbaz Sharif praised the sacrifices of the armed forces, stating that the martyrs had given their lives to save countless children from becoming orphans.
“We will never allow anyone to spread chaos in the country. The entire nation is united in its resolve to completely and permanently eradicate these extremists,” he asserted.
PM Highlights Pakistan’s Role in Promoting Gaza Ceasefire
The Prime Minister also spoke about international developments, noting that US President Donald Trump recently met with the heads of eight Islamic countries, including Pakistan.
He said the entire Pakistani nation holds a unified stance that there must be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and that the Palestinian people must be granted their right to self-determination.
“Pakistan has raised its voice for Palestine at the United Nations and continues to advocate for an independent Palestinian state,” he said.
Shehbaz Sharif added that Pakistan was honoured to be among the eight Muslim-majority nations chosen from 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to play a key role in peace efforts. “Our position has been an independent Palestinian state since day one,” he said.
“President Trump said that the West Bank of Gaza will never become part of Israel,” the Prime Minister revealed.
Bilateral Relations and Regional Diplomacy
Discussing political and diplomatic matters, the Prime Minister said that political statements should not damage relations with coalition partners, particularly the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
He shared details of his meeting with US President Trump in Washington, where, he said, Field Marshal-level officials were also present.
“We discussed bilateral relations, trade, and counterterrorism in detail,” he said.
Reiterating Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities, Shehbaz Sharif said that an independent Palestine is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s diplomacy. “No one should have any doubt about our position,” he said.
He reaffirmed that China remains Pakistan’s oldest and most reliable friend, while relations with Saudi Arabia have grown stronger.
“The Pakistan-Saudi Defence Agreement formalises the deep bond between the two nations. Under the Pak-Saudi defence agreement, an attack on one country will be considered an attack on another,” he added.
The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the government negotiation team working on issues in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Malaysia Visit and Strengthened Ties
Shehbaz Sharif also recalled his recent visit to Malaysia, saying that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim personally welcomed him upon arrival and came to see him off at the airport.
“That honour belongs to Pakistan,” he said.
