PM Shehbaz at UNGA: To meet Trump, Muslim leaders amid Gaza focus

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in New York to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly and is scheduled to attend a multilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and leaders from key Muslim countries on Tuesday. According to the Foreign Office, the premier—accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and senior officials—will highlight Pakistan’s positions on Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and address broader global concerns including Gaza, climate change, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump would convene a meeting with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Indonesia, with Gaza expected to dominate discussions. Reporting by Axios suggested the US president would table a proposal on post-war governance and reconstruction in Gaza, seeking contributions from Arab and Muslim nations. On the UNGA sidelines, the premier is slated for interactions with several world leaders, including Austria’s chancellor and Kuwait’s crown prince and prime minister, as well as meetings with the heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Pakistan also welcomed the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by countries including France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Portugal, with Ishaq Dar urging others to follow suit at a high-level conference in New York. Islamabad has reiterated support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital. Additional reporting was contributed by Reuters.