Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in New York to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the high-level segment of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he is expected to draw global attention to the “grave crisis” in Gaza and advocate for “decisive action” to end the suffering of Palestinians. The Prime Minister will also call on the international community to address the long-standing issues of prolonged occupation and the denial of self-determination in India-occupied Kashmir and Palestine.
World leaders converge in New York each September for the annual UNGA session, and this year, PM Shehbaz’s address will articulate Pakistan’s perspective on regional security, climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development. A government statement highlighted the Prime Minister’s participation as a testament to Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism and its historical contributions to global peace and development.
Having departed from London, PM Shehbaz reached New York late Monday night. He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with other ministers and senior officials. During his visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with various world leaders, including Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, Kuwait’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. These discussions are expected to cover issues of mutual interest and underscore Pakistan’s resolve to uphold the UN Charter and foster global prosperity, particularly in its current role as a member of the Security Council.
The Prime Minister’s itinerary also includes several high-level events, such as key meetings of the UN Security Council, a Global Development Initiative meeting, and a special event focused on climate action.
**Meeting with Arab and Muslim Leaders Alongside Trump**
A notable engagement for PM Shehbaz will be a special summit of Arab and Muslim countries, co-hosted by the United States and Qatar, where US President Donald Trump is also slated to participate. The Prime Minister received a special invitation to this summit. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday that President Trump would hold a multilateral meeting with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
Sources familiar with the discussions indicate that Gaza will be a primary topic. Axios reported that President Trump plans to present a proposal for peace and post-war governance in Gaza, which would include freeing hostages and an Israeli withdrawal, crucially without Hamas involvement. Washington is reportedly seeking agreement from Arab and Muslim nations to deploy military forces to Gaza to facilitate Israel’s withdrawal and secure funding for transition and rebuilding initiatives.
**Foreign Minister Dar’s Engagements**
Ahead of the UNGA session, Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who represented Pakistan at a high-level conference in New York on Monday, welcomed the formal recognition of the State of Palestine by France and Monaco. Although not among the speakers at the conference, Mr. Dar shared his appreciation for these announcements on social media.
On the sidelines of the UNGA, Mr. Dar held several important bilateral meetings. He met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, acknowledging the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Canada relations and agreeing to bolster economic and trade ties. The Foreign Minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Syrian people during a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, resolving to deepen the historic friendship between the two nations across various domains, including trade and human capital development.
Additionally, Mr. Dar met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, emphasizing Pakistan’s strong ties with the GCC and commitment to multifaceted cooperation. Discussions also focused on enhancing collaboration and expanding institutional linkages. The Foreign Minister also held talks with his Hungarian counterpart, where both sides expressed resolve for the early finalisation of agreements on mutual investment protection, civil aviation cooperation, direct flight operations, and a visa abolition agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders.
Earlier, Mr. Dar participated in the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting at UN Headquarters and consultations hosted by Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
