Pakistan prime minister says nation stood as 'wall against enemy'

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday the nation has demonstrated that any attack on its sovereignty will be met with unified resistance.

“We stand as a wall against the enemy,” he said.

He thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts in mediation which led to a cease-fire after four days of intense military exchanges between India and Pakistan.

The ceasefire came amid heightened fears that the conflict could escalate into a broader confrontation, with both nations on high alert.

Sharif also thanked friendly nations including China, Turkiye, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for standing with Pakistan in times of need.

He expressed hope for dialogue on the Indus Waters Treaty, a key water-sharing treaty, which India unilaterally suspended.

The prime minister paid tribute to the fallen heroes of the escalation and praised the armed forces for their stellar performance in the "face of the enemy."

“History will always remember” how Pakistan’s armed forces downed India's Rafael jets, he said.

He thanked journalists for reporting with "integrity" and social media users for countering fake news.

What triggered the conflict?

The current hostilities began after a deadly April 22 attack targeting tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 people dead.

India blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for the assault, prompting New Delhi to launch air strikes earlier this week on what it described as "terrorist infrastructure" within Pakistan.

Pakistan, which denies involvement in the Kashmir attack, condemned the strikes and vowed to retaliate.