According to a previous statement by the Foreign Office (FO), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will use his address at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to “urge the international community to resolve the situations of prolonged occupation and denial of the right to self-determination,” with a particular focus on India-occupied Kashmir and Palestine.
He is also set to “highlight Pakistan’s perspective on the regional security situation, as well as other issues of international concern, including climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development.”
The FO statement noted that PM Shehbaz will attend several “high-level events” on the sidelines of the UNGA session, including a meeting of “select” Muslim leaders with US President Donald Trump. He is also scheduled to meet with various world leaders and senior UN officials to discuss issues of mutual interest.
“He will also underline Pakistan’s resolve to work with all UN member states to uphold the UN Charter, prevent conflict, foster peace and promote global prosperity in Pakistan’s current role as a member of the Security Council,” the FO added.
Earlier today, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in the UK, Dr. Muhammad Faisal, and other diplomatic staff saw the prime minister off at Luton Airport.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in New York ahead of the prime minister and will be accompanying him at the UNGA. The FO stated on X, “On arrival, FM Dar was received by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Shiekh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States and senior officials of the Mission.”
The statement further mentioned that the DPM/FM will have a packed schedule in New York. “Besides accompanying the PM to his many engagements, the DPM/FM will represent Pakistan in numerous ministerial and high-level meetings and also hold over a dozen bilateral meetings with his counterparts.”
As nearly 150 world leaders gather to commemorate the UN’s 80th anniversary, the global forum finds itself grappling with widespread protests and ongoing conflicts. From its very beginning, the unresolved issue of Palestine has posed a significant challenge to the UN, testing both its credibility and its ability to deliver peace.
In a move to renew support for a two-state solution, a high-level international conference titled “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” is being held at the UNGA, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. Breaking from conventional protocol, the UNGA last week voted to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the event via video link after the US denied him and his delegation visas to attend the meeting.
