Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, including what he termed “state terrorism,” and said there was irrefutable evidence of foreign involvement in the recent Jaffar Express train hostage incident.
Addressing the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the prime minister said Pakistan had made unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against extremism, losing over 90,000 lives and bearing economic losses exceeding $152 billion.
“Those who have long used terrorism for advancing their political interest must know that the world no longer buys this narrative,” he remarked, adding that foreign elements were involved in recent terror incidents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy.
He called on SCO leadership to launch a structured dialogue to resolve longstanding disputes in South Asia and stressed that Pakistan sought normal, stable relations with its neighbors, advocating dialogue over confrontation.
