ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend a multilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and leaders of a select group of Muslim-majority countries during the 80th UNGA session.
The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced on Monday, that “The (US) president will also, later in the day (Tuesday), hold a multilateral meeting with Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan.”
Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office, in an official statement, announced that the leaders will exchange views on pressing issues related to regional and international peace and security.
Sharif, who is leading Pakistan’s delegation to the high-level UNGA segment, is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, several ministers, and senior officials.
Decisive global action
In his address to the UNGA, Sharif is expected to emphasize the urgent need for the international community to address prolonged occupations and denied rights in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine. He will particularly highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urge decisive global action.
The Foreign Office added that the prime minister will also present Pakistan’s position on key international challenges, including regional security, climate change, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development.
Sharif is scheduled to attend multiple high-level events, including meetings of the UN Security Council, the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and a session on Climate Action.
He will also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and senior UN officials on the sidelines to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Pak-Saudi defense pact
The meeting this week with Trump will take place days after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defense pact, agreeing to treat attacks on either as attacks on both.
The announcement followed Israel’s targeted killing of Hamas leaders in Qatar, which has heightened regional tensions and prompted Gulf nations to bolster security cooperation.
Sharif’s participation also signals a warming of Pakistan-US ties, which have been strengthened after Islamabad praised Trump’s role in brokering a ceasefire with India in May.
