Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the 81st United Nations General Assembly session on September 25, focusing his remarks on the Kashmir dispute and the Middle East conflict, according to Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.
UNGA Address Focuses on Kashmir, Palestine, and Global Crises
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on September 25 will center heavily on international conflicts and multilateral cooperation, as stated by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad during a media briefing in New York. According to Ahmad and the Foreign Office, the prime minister’s speech will draw direct attention to Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, alongside addressing climate change, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, global economic challenges, UN reforms, and issues confronting the Global South.
Ahead of the prime minister’s arrival, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is already in New York holding meetings with foreign ministers and other officials. According to the Foreign Office, Dar is scheduled to attend dedicated meetings on Kashmir and Palestine on the sidelines of the UNGA session. Pakistan continues to call for an immediate end to the violence in Gaza, supports an independent Palestinian state based on relevant UN resolutions, and regularly demands the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people.
Diplomatic Engagements and Potential Meeting With Tim Cook
Alongside formal address preparations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders during his New York visit. Ambassador Ahmad disclosed that Pakistan is also working to arrange a meeting between the prime minister and Apple Executive Chairman Tim Cook. These diplomatic and high-level engagements coincide with a high-level UNGA session where the Middle East conflict is expected to dominate discussions.
Pakistan has consistently emphasized dialogue and diplomacy to resolve ongoing international disputes. On September 14, Ambassador Ahmad told Geo News that the country is actively seeking peaceful solutions through international and UN-backed mechanisms. Highlighting the deteriorating regional situation, Ahmad stressed that the immediate priority must be to stop fighting, reduce tensions, and bring parties back to the negotiating table. Citing the UN Security Council Charter, the diplomat reiterated that international disputes are meant to be resolved through negotiations rather than war, acknowledging that while the situation is moving in a negative direction, Pakistan remains conscious of its responsibility to prevent further escalation.
Significance and Potential Next Steps at the UN
The high-level UN gathering provides Islamabad with a prominent multilateral platform to reiterate its positions on protracted territorial disputes and humanitarian crises. By formally placing Kashmir and Palestine at the forefront of the prime minister’s UNGA agenda, Pakistan aims to rally international support for UN-backed resolutions and negotiated settlements.