Amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in May 2025, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly credited former U.S. President Donald Trump for his “timely intervention” that helped avert a larger military conflict. Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sharif emphasized the critical timing of Trump’s involvement and warned that such a perilous situation between the two nuclear-armed countries in South Asia must be prevented in the future.
Sharif’s remarks were met with a response from India, which maintained that the ceasefire agreement reached during the May 2025 confrontation was the result of direct communication between New Delhi and Islamabad, without any third-party involvement. India rebutted Pakistan’s claims about external mediation in the ceasefire process.
During his address, Sharif also defended Pakistan’s military actions during the conflict, asserting that the response was in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows for self-defense. He commended the Pakistani armed forces for their role in the confrontation.
Another point of contention raised by Sharif was the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement between India and Pakistan concerning the use of the Indus river system. Sharif criticized India’s decision to place the treaty in abeyance, arguing that the river system is essential to Pakistan and the broader region. He asserted that any attempts by India to obstruct or redirect Pakistan’s share of the waters would be considered an “act of war.”
India responded to these allegations in its right of reply at the UN, accusing Pakistan of perpetuating cross-border terrorism, a long-standing issue according to New Delhi. India reiterated its commitment to defending itself against terrorism and dismissed Pakistan’s claims regarding the Indus Waters Treaty as unfounded.