Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reached New York to participate in the high-level segment of the 80th United Nations General Assembly session, scheduled from September 22 to 26. He arrived ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who will join the Pakistani delegation on Monday afternoon. Upon arrival, Dar was welcomed by senior Pakistani diplomats, including Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative to the UN, and Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s envoy to the United States. His presence marks Pakistan’s active involvement in critical global discussions this week.
Dar is set to engage in a busy schedule that includes accompanying Prime Minister Sharif during several official engagements and representing Pakistan in numerous ministerial and high-level meetings. Additionally, he plans to hold more than a dozen bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts from across the world. These interactions aim to strengthen diplomatic ties, address pressing global issues, and promote Pakistan’s position on regional and international matters. His participation underscores Islamabad’s efforts to ensure its voice is heard at the global stage during crucial deliberations.
Meanwhile, world attention is also shifting to a major summit on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where France and Saudi Arabia are rallying dozens of world leaders to support a two-state solution. The summit, being held in New York, is expected to see several countries formally recognise a Palestinian state. This move signals growing international support for Palestinian self-determination, despite expected opposition from Israel and its closest ally, the United States. The gathering adds a significant dimension to the week’s UN-related activities.
However, Israel and the United States have announced they will boycott the summit, calling it unhelpful and counterproductive to the peace process. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon criticised the event, describing it as rewarding terrorism and warning it could provoke further instability in the region. Israeli officials are also considering annexing parts of the occupied West Bank as a potential response to international pressure. These developments reflect the deep divisions and rising tensions surrounding the longstanding conflict.
The United States has additionally cautioned that countries recognising a Palestinian state may face consequences, including possible measures against France, whose president, Emmanuel Macron, is co-hosting the summit. This warning highlights the sensitive nature of the issue and the potential diplomatic fallout. The summit and its outcomes will be closely watched, as they could reshape global approaches to Middle East peace and influence broader discussions at the UN General Assembly this week.