Pakistan's deputy PM Ishaq Dar arrives in New York ahead of PM Shehbaz's UN General Assembly address amid Middle East tensions.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will touch down in New York on Sunday for advance diplomatic work ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s arrival Monday for the UN General Assembly. The early arrival sets the stage for an intense week of talks as global tensions simmer across the Middle East, including the escalating Yemen conflict and U.S.-Iran friction.
- ▪Dar arrives Sunday; PM Shehbaz arrives Monday to lead Pakistan’s 81st UNGA delegation and address the assembly Sept. 25
- ▪Pakistan’s delegation significantly reduced under government austerity; core team includes Dar, PM, and senior foreign-policy adviser Tariq Fatemi
- ▪Several federal ministers dropped from trip: Information, Climate Change, and Planning ministers not attending
- ▪Dar’s prep meetings will focus on Pakistan’s UNGA priorities and rapidly shifting regional situation amid Middle East crisis
- ▪UN General Assembly high-level debate runs Sept. 22-26 and resumes Sept. 28; U.S. President Trump scheduled to address Sept. 24
- ▪Trump administration expected to emphasize handling of international crises, Iran nuclear concerns, and a 20-point Gaza peace plan
- ▪UN Security Council Friday strongly condemned ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb
- ▪Pakistan faces diplomatic balancing act: maintains close Gulf ties while sharing border and ties with Iran; expected to stress dialogue
- ▪Pakistan’s agenda includes sustainable development, climate action, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, UN reform, Palestinian issue, Kashmir dispute
- ▪PM Shehbaz will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and UN secretary-general during the week
Source: according to media reports
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