ISLAMABAD: Leaders from Pakistan, Arab Gulf nations and other Muslim states met on Monday in New York to ponder a unified approach on key regional and global issues at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Pakistani foreign office said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the Pakistan delegation to New York as the General Assembly High-level Week 2025 kicked off on Monday, with global leaders in attendance and Tuesday, Sept. 23 set to be the first day of the high-level General Debate at the 80th session.
On Monday, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, represented Pakistan in consultations hosted by Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in New York, which also included deputy prime ministers of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia and Turkiye.
Dar underscored that the people of Pakistan had great affinity for their Muslim brethren in the Middle East and would support all constructive endeavours aimed at fostering peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.
“The ministers exchanged views and coordinated positions for unified approach on some of the key issues at the UN General Assembly session,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
The UNGA session comes in the backdrop of Israel’s nearly two-year war on Gaza and the recent strikes against Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital of Doha, which raised fears of a wider military conflict in an already volatile region and drew condemnations from the Muslim world.
The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly is being held under the theme “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”
From Sept. 23 till Sept. 29, the session will feature speeches from presidents, prime ministers and monarchs who will deliver national statements, set out visions for peace, development, human rights and collective action at the iconic green marble podium.
Pakistan PM Sharif as well as various world leaders will also take part in the “High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” which will be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
In a statement on Sunday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Sharif will urge the international community to resolve the crises in Palestine and disputed Kashmir territory and grant the people there the right to self-determination. The Pakistani prime minister will call for decisive action to end the suffering of the Palestinians.
“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 statement said.
“The prime minister will also participate in a meeting of select Islamic leaders with US President [Donald] Trump to exchange views on issues pertaining to regional and international peace and security.”
Sharif is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders and senior UN officials to discuss matters of mutual interest, according to the Pakistan foreign ministry. 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.
