Every September, world leaders gather in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, delivering speeches over several days. According to a government statement posted on X, this year, in his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will urge the international community to resolve the long-standing issues of occupation and denial of the right to self-determination in India-occupied Kashmir and Palestine. The statement also noted that the prime minister will highlight Pakistan’s perspective on the regional security situation and other global issues of concern, including climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development.
The statement emphasized that PM Shehbaz’s “participation in this biggest annual gathering of global leaders will showcase Pakistan’s strong commitment to multilateralism and the United Nations and to highlight Pakistan’s longstanding contribution towards the shared objectives of peace and development.”
The prime minister, who arrived in New York late Monday night after departing from London, is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, other ministers, and senior officials. On the sidelines of the UNGA session, he is scheduled to hold meetings with 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.
According to the government statement, the prime minister will exchange views on matters of mutual interest during his bilateral meetings with world leaders and senior UN officials. “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.” He is also set to attend several high-level events, including important meetings of the UN Security Council, a high-level meeting of the Global Development Initiative, and a special high-level event on climate action.
Trump’s Meeting with Arab and Muslim Leaders
In New York, PM Shehbaz will also attend a special summit of Arab and Muslim countries, co-hosted by the United States and Qatar, where US President Donald Trump will also be present. The prime minister has received a special invitation to this summit. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday that Trump would hold a multilateral meeting with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the discussion would focus on Gaza.
Axios reported that Trump plans to present the group with a proposal for peace and post-war governance in Gaza. In addition to addressing the release of hostages and ending the war, Trump is expected to discuss US plans for an Israeli withdrawal and post-war governance in Gaza without Hamas involvement. Axios further reported that Washington wants Arab and Muslim nations to agree to send military forces to Gaza to facilitate Israel’s withdrawal and secure funding for the transition and rebuilding efforts.
Ishaq Dar in New York
Before the UNGA session began, France and Monaco formally recognized the State of Palestine at a high-level conference in New York on Monday. Foreign Minister Dar, who represented Pakistan at the conference, was not among the speakers, which included heads of state and government from countries such as Turkiye, Australia, Brazil, and Canada. However, he welcomed the announcements regarding the recognition of Palestine by several countries on X.
According to state-run PTV News, Dar met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand today on the sidelines of the UNGA session. PTV News reported, “They acknowledged the positive trajectory of Pakistan–Canada relations, agreed to further strengthen economic and trade ties and recognised the vital role of the Pakistani diaspora in Canada.”
Dar also posted a picture on X with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, stating that he had “reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Syrian people” during their meeting. He added, “And we shared the resolve to further deepen historic Pakistan–Syria friendship through cooperation across diverse domains, including trade, human capital and development.”
State broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported that the foreign minister also met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi. The report said Dar emphasized the importance Pakistan places on its ties with the GCC and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with member states. Both sides discussed ways to enhance collaboration and expand institutional linkages between Pakistan and the GCC.
Yesterday, Dar participated in the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting at UN Headquarters. He also took part in consultations hosted by Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Other participants included the deputy prime ministers of Jordan and the UAE and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye. He also had a meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand.
