Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, addressed the overseas Pakistani community at the High Commission in London, stating: “We fully engaged in the meeting concerning Gaza, and God willing, its encouraging outcomes will soon emerge.”
He also voiced his deep anguish over the ongoing situation in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli offensive since October 2023, and offered prayers for the swift cessation of the cruelty and barbarity being witnessed there.
A crucial meeting held by President Donald Trump with Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York brought together leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, and Indonesia.
Prior to the formal consultations, Trump told his guests: “We must get the hostages back… This is the group that can accomplish this, more than any other group in the world… so it’s an honour to be with you.”
Trump underscored the critical need to end the conflict, remarking: “We had 32 meetings here; this is the one that’s very important because we’re going to end something that probably should’ve never been started.”
According to information from Israel’s Channel 12 and the US-based Axios, President Trump’s proposal details an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, both alive and deceased; a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza’s governance, excluding Hamas but involving the Palestinian Authority; the deployment of Arab and Muslim peacekeepers to secure Gaza and facilitate Israel’s pullout; and internationally supported programs for reconstruction and transition, financed by regional contributors. These specifics were reportedly conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, although the plan was not drafted by Israel.
Foreign Minister Dar, who also attended the discussion with Trump, similarly expressed optimism for positive results, saying that once these materialised, “we will share them with the nation.” He added that follow-up communications after the meeting were ongoing as recently as the previous night.
Earlier in his address, PM Shehbaz spoke about his diplomatic activities in New York, where he headed Pakistan’s delegation to the 80th UNGA session. He highlighted that his speech at the UNGA mirrored the sentiments of Pakistanis and that he strongly advocated for the case of India-occupied Kashmir there.
The Prime Minister also touched upon his bilateral talks with Trump in Washington during his recent US visit, describing the engagement as “productive” and “constructive.” He remarked: “It was held in a conducive atmosphere,” expressing his hope that it would contribute to further strengthening Pakistan-US relations.
