PM Shehbaz Sharif to highlight Kashmir, Gaza at UNGA
Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan’s high-level delegation at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly starting today, where he will urge the international community to address the long-standing issues of Kashmir and Palestine, emphasizing their right to self-determination.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement released the Government of Pakistan via its official X account, in his address to the General Assembly this year, PM Shehbaz will urge the international community to resolve the situations of prolonged occupation and denial of the right to self-determination in India-occupied Kashmir and Palestine. He would also address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for decisive action to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. The statement added that the PM 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.
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 statement read.
The prime minister, who reached New York late Monday night after departing from London, will be 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 will 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 PM will exchange of views on issues 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.” Moreover, he will attend several high-level events, including important meetings of the UN Security Council, a high-level meeting of the Global Development Initiative on the theme “Recommit to our Original Aspirations, United to Build a Brighter Future of Global Development” and a special high-level event on climate action, the government statement said.
In New York, PM Shehbaz will also attend a special summit of Arab and Muslim countries, co-hosted by the United States and Qatar, in which US President Donald Trump will also participate. The prime minister has been specially invited to participate in the summit, where Trump will hold a multilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan. According to Reuters, Gaza will be a major topic of discussion at the summit. KMS-16S
