ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan`s commitment to regional peace and offered to resolve all bilateral disputes with India through dialogue, provided New Delhi demonstrates sincerity and cooperation.

Addressingthe second Pakistan-TurkiyeAzerbaijan Trilateral Summit in the Azeri city of Lachin, the prime minister referred to the recent aggression of India and said that with Allah Almighty`s infinite blessings and kindness, the support of the people of Pakistan and friendly countries and a resolute response of the armed forces, Pakistan emerged victorious.

In his speech, telecast live on national TV channels, the prime minister said Pakistan wanted peace in the region and that required talks on the table to discuss the issues that needed urgent attention and amicable solution like the Kashmir issue, which should be resolved according to the UN Security Council resolutions and as per aspiration of the people of Kashmir.

The prime minister said that, unfortunately, India tried to weaponise the Indus Waters Treaty, which was a lifeline for the 240 million population of Pakistan that used the water for agriculture, drinking,and otherpurposes.

`It is most unfortunate that India tried to threaten to stop the flow of water into Pakistan. This is not possible nor will it ever be, Insha`Allah. We are making proper arrangements to ensure that India never ever does it,` he said.

PM Shehbaz said if India wanted totalk on countering terrorism with sincerity, Pakistan would be willing to talk to them on this issue as well.

`We are the biggest victim of terrorism around the globe and have lost 90,000 valuable lives and suffered $150 billion worth of economic losses over the last few decades. There can be no bigger manifestation of our commitment and intention to beat this menace for all times to come,` he added.

If India showed serious and honest cooper ation, Pakistan would be willing to bring all the issues, including promotion of trade, to the negotiation table, he said.

The prime minister also appreciated the role of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who he said led the armed forces of Pakistan to fight with great bravery and the highest level of professional acumen.

He stressed that during the recent conflict, India failed to present any credible evidence against Pakistan and rejected Islamabad`s sincere offer for a neutral and transparent investigation into the Pahalgam incident by any international body.

The prime minister said that during the previous trilateral summit, Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan held fruitful discussions on the issues of mutual interests and hoped that the current session in Lachin would take their cooperation to new heights.

He said that it would be no surprise to anyone that the three countries were bound together with historical, cultural and spiritual ties spanning over centuries.

`This historic friendship was strengthened with Turkiye and Azerbaijan held into the Pahalgam incident by any international body.

The prime minister said that during the previous trilateral summit, Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan held fruitful discussions on issues of mutual interests and hoped that the current session in Lachin would take their cooperation to new heights.

He said that it would be no surprise to anyone that the three countries were bound together in historical, cultural and spiritual ties spanning over centuries.

`This historic friendship was strengthened with the passage of time, and they stood together with each other, whether it was the Nagorno-Karabakh, Northern Cyprus, and Kashmir issues,` he added.

The prime minister said it was natural that their people were bound together with love and passion, supporting their common objectives.

He also highlighted that the world faced numerous grave challenges today, including armed conflicts, diseases, climate change and economic crises.

In this unpredictable, volatile world, PM Shehbaz said political security, connectivity, alignments and emerging technology were shaping the new reality, and in such a situation, Pakistan was very fortunate tohave sincere brotherslike Turkiye and Azerbaijan.

The prime minister further said that the trilateral format was of great importance and significance that had given them `political ownership and impetus to move collectively in unison in all spheres of their common interests`.

`Common, shared history` In his remarks, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said the three countries were united based on their common and shared his-tory, culture and religion.

He said Azerbaijan wanted to advance its cooperation through joint ventures and envisaged $2bn investment in Pakistan`s economy with specific development projects.

President Aliyev stressed the importance of cooperation in artificial intelligence, space exploration, academic collaboration, cultural events, and tourism links to enhance ties between their people.

He said that tensions between Pakistan and India troubled them most and they expressed solidarity with Pakistan, adding that dialogue under the UN charter was a way to move forward.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye, in his speech, congratulated Azerbaijan on its Independence Day and said that the three brotherly countries were linked with mutual trust and confidence.

Their ties were being strengthened and they were striving to translate their trilateral relationship into strategic cooperation, he said, and hoped that the region would become the focus of peace, stability, and prosperity.

Referring to the recent visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Istanbul, President Erdogan said thatthey discussed the scope ofthe high-level strategic council and historic ties.

He congratulated the prime minister for the prudent and wise approach during the conflict with India and said that the ceasefire had ended tensions between the two countries.

Condemning the Israeli aggression, he called on the entire world to create pressure on Israel for a ceasefire and ensure uninterrupted humanitarian supply in Gaza.

Azerbaijan`s Independence Day Later, in his address at the Independence Day ceremony of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Shehbaz called for unity,peace and justice in the region while highlighting the deepening bonds among Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye, declaring the relationship as now `three souls and one heart`.

`It is a matter of great honour to be here today, celebrating both Azerbaijan`s Independence Day and Pakistan`s Youm-i-Takbeer the day we became a nuclear power in 1998,` the premier said, underscoring the symbolic significance of May 28 for both nations.

In his address, the prime minister expressed heartfelt congratulations to the people of Azerbaijan and paid tribute to the sacrifices of their armed forces and martyrs.

`When Armenia attacked Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkiye stood like a rock beside it. And today, when India attacked Pakistan, President Erdogan and President Aliyev stood like a formidable fortress beside us. This is true brotherhood,` PM Shehbaz said.

He also condemned Israeli atrocities in Gaza. `Over 52,000 Palestinians children, women, the elderly have been martyred.

Their blood stains the streets of Gaza. There is no modern precedent to this level of brutality,` he said.

`Let our voices rise in the name of God to demand a ceasefire and justice for the people of Gaza.

COAS meets Azeri minister Meanwhile, Field Marshal Munir met Azerbaijan`s defence minister, Colonel General Hasanov Zakir Asgar Oglu, in Lachin on the sidelines of the trilateral summit.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics and ways to enhance defence cooperation.

The COAS appreciated the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and emphasised Pakistan`s commitment to strengthening defence ties with Azerbaijan.