LONDON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed from London on Monday for New York, where he will lead Pakistan’s delegation at the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.
According to a statement issued earlier by the Foreign Office (FO), the prime minister “will urge the international community to resolve the situations of prolonged occupation and denial of the right to self-determination,” particularly in India-occupied Kashmir and Palestine.
“He will also 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 said.
The statement added that PM Shehbaz would attend several “high-level events” on the sidelines of the UNGA, including a moot of “select” Muslim leaders with US President Donald Trump. He will also hold meetings with several world leaders and senior UN officials to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.
“He will 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 noted.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Dr Muhammad Faisal and other diplomatic staff saw the prime minister off at Luton Airport.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reached New York, where he was received by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN; Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s envoy to the United States; and senior mission officials.
“The DPM/FM will have a busy programme 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,” the FO said on X.
This year’s session comes as nearly 150 world leaders gather to mark the UN’s 80th anniversary amid protests and ongoing wars. From its inception, the unresolved question of Palestine has haunted the UN, testing its credibility and capacity to deliver peace.
A high-level international conference for the “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, aims to revive support for a two-state solution.
In a break with convention, the UNGA last week voted to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the conference via video link after the United States denied him and his delegation visas to attend the event.
