Leaders call for reforms in United Nations
The inaugural session of the Third Trilateral Speakers' Meeting between Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan opened in Islamabad on Sunday, marking what participants described as a new era of parliamentary cooperation for regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
The session, held at the National Assembly Secretariat under the chairmanship of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was attended by Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, Numan Kurtulmus and Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.
In his opening remarks, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the visiting dignitaries. He termed the trilateral parliamentary engagement among the three "brotherly nations" a unique manifestation of strategic partnership and fraternal unity.
He said the cooperation "is not merely between governments but represents the collective will of the peoples of all three nations and the voice of their parliaments."
Referring to the conference theme, "Strengthening Fraternal Ties: Parliamentary Cooperation for Regional Peace, Security and Prosperity," Sadiq said it truly reflects "the shared vision and spirit of brotherhood" among the three nations.
Touching upon global developments, he noted that the international security order was under strain, citing "violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity" worldwide. Referring to Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), he said these injustices were "indelible scars on the conscience of humanity".
He condemned India's "continued human rights violations in IIOJK" and its "recent act of aggression against Pakistan," which, he said, was effectively countered through Operation Banyan al-Marsoos. Paying tribute to Pakistan's armed forces, he said they had "safeguarded the nation's sovereignty with courage".
Sadiq thanked Pakistan's allies, particularly Turkiye, Azerbaijan, China and Saudi Arabia, for standing by Pakistan in difficult times.
He also accused India of violating the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it an act of "water terrorism" that threatened regional stability.
On regional security, the speaker said "terrorism has no religion" and must be countered through collective action.
Despite repeated provocations from Afghan soil, he said, Pakistan had exercised restraint. He praised the military's "precise and effective operations against terrorists," stressing that "the sacrifices of Pakistan's martyrs will never go in vain".
Highlighting the challenges of climate change, Sadiq recalled the devastating floods of 2022 and 2025, describing them as evidence of "global climate injustice".