Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted Eidul Fitr’s greetings to residents of Pakistan and Muslim world leaders on Monday, while highlighting the need for unity, economic renewal and support for oppressed communities in cashmere and Palestine.
In his message, the Prime Minister recognized the current battle against terrorism and paid tribute to the armed forces of Pakistan. “The officers and the jawans sacrifice their lives to restore law and order,” he said.
“EID teaches us happiness, recognition, brotherhood and empathy,” noted Sharif, urging the nation to advance the spirit of Ramazan by patience, sacrifice and adhesion to Islamic values.
He warned of “internal and external enemies” and called on the public to remain united against hatred, sectarianism and extremism. “It is our collective responsibility to strengthen the economy, society and national solidarity,” he said.
The Prime Minister also remembered the martyrs of the recent attack by Jaffar Express and expressed his solidarity with their families. He reaffirmed the unwavering support of Pakistan to the people of the Indians illegally occupied Jammu-Cachemire and Palestine, urging the international community to act against human rights violations.
Sharif called on citizens to share Eid celebrations with disadvantaged and to contribute to the construction of a social protection society.
Diplomatic awareness
As part of his Eid diplomacy, Prime Minister Sharif held telephone calls with several Muslim leaders.
He spoke with Prince Howeit, Prince Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah, making him greet and the direction of Kuwaiti.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s intention to deepen cooperation, recalling their meeting in the United Nations General Assembly in New York last year.
He also spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and expressed his satisfaction with the positive impetus in bilateral relations.
Erdogan made Eid’s greetings and reiterated Turkiye’s support in Pakistan on key issues.
Later, Sharif phoned the king of Jordan Abdullah II to exercise his wishes for Eid and discuss the situation in Gaza. The king thanked Pakistan for his humanitarian support to the Palestinians and congratulated the constant support of Islamabad to the Palestinian cause.
Sharif expressed his appreciation for Jordan’s peace creation efforts and extended an official invitation to King Abdullah to visit Pakistan, which was warmly reciprocal.
The Prime Minister also organized similar exchanges with the presidents of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, stressing Pakistan’s commitment to strengthen links through the Muslim world.
In addition, Muslim leaders in the region marked Eid al-Fitr with public prayers and large-scale speeches on Monday, addressing both religious celebration and political themes.
In Iran, the head of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyyyed Ali Khamenei led the prayers of Eid to the Mosque of the Grande Mosalla in Tehran, where he also extended the Felilications for Eid and the Persian New Year, Nowruz.
During his speech, Khamenei praised the great national participation rate for International Days, held each year in favor of the Palestinians. He delivered a strong reprimand to Israel, calling him “the Zionist regime of the corrupt usurper” and describing it as a proxy force for colonial powers.
“If enemies commit evil, they will certainly receive a strong and reciprocal blow,” said Khamenei. “And if they seek to create sedition in the country, the nation itself will give an appropriate response.”
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the reclusive supreme chief of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, published a rare public message for Eid, urging national unity and reconciliation.
He described the current moment as a “golden possibility” for Afghans to come together behind the country’s security forces, creating them peace since the return of the Taliban in power.
The message, shared in five languages on social networks, notably avoided the reference to recent attacks or international criticisms facing the Taliban government, in particular its restrictions on personal freedoms.
Instead, Akhundzada has urged support to the ministry for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, which applies strict social codes.
Eidul Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan fasting month and is celebrated by Muslims around the world thanks to prayers, charity and community rallies. In Iran and Afghanistan, the opportunity is deeply linked both with spiritual reflection and national discourse.
