Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to meet with US President Donald Trump during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) annual session, which will be held in New York from September 22-26. The Pakistani delegation will include Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other high-ranking officials. A key aspect of the meeting involves a discussion between Trump and a selection of leaders from Muslim nations.
The Pakistani foreign office confirmed that the agenda includes discussions on regional and international peace and security. During the discussions, Shehbaz will urge for solutions to long-standing challenges. Emphasis will also be placed on the conditions in Gaza, and the demand for actions to support the Palestinian cause.
Additional topics of discussion will be global issues such as climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development. Shehbaz is scheduled to take part in several events, including meetings of the UN Security Council, global development initiatives, and discussions related to climate action. Bilateral meetings with international leaders and senior UN officials are also on the schedule.
Shehbaz Sharif will reaffirm Pakistan’s dedication to the UN Charter, underlining Pakistan’s role in peace, security, and global development. The Pakistani foreign office views this UNGA participation as a demonstration of Pakistan’s firm support for multilateralism and the UN.
This meeting will mark the first time Shehbaz Sharif and Trump will meet since the former took office this January. Earlier, Trump extended an invitation to Pakistan’s army chief to the White House. The meeting takes place amid growing tensions in the Middle East. Recent Israeli actions targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar were met with condemnation from US-allied Arab nations, with Pakistan participating in relevant Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation meetings.
Trump, post the Doha attacks, held a dinner with Qatar’s Prime Minister in New York, during which he criticized Israel. Despite this, the US Secretary of State has stated that the US-Israel relationship will stay unchanged. Many analysts believe that the Israeli attacks on Qatar have eroded American credibility, as Arab nations are looking to other avenues beyond the US to ensure their security.
In a related development, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have entered into a defense agreement, specifying that any aggression against either nation would be regarded as an attack on both.