Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to arrive in New York ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to attend the high-level segment of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Dar’s early arrival is aimed at allowing Pakistan to hold preliminary diplomatic consultations and prepare for an intensive week of meetings as world leaders gather at the United Nations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to arrive in New York on Monday and is expected to address the General Assembly on September 25.
The Pakistani delegation has been significantly streamlined as part of the government’s austerity measures. According to sources cited by Dawn, Dar and senior foreign-policy adviser Tariq Fatemi will form the core of the prime minister’s delegation, while several federal ministers who were initially expected to travel have been dropped from the trip.
Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements during the UN General Assembly are expected to focus on regional and international developments. The Foreign Office has said that the prime minister’s UNGA address will present Pakistan’s position on global and regional issues while emphasizing dialogue, diplomacy, restraint and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The deteriorating situation in the Middle East is expected to be an important subject of diplomatic discussions in New York. The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, the situation in Yemen and growing tensions across the Gulf have created additional challenges for countries seeking to maintain relations with different regional partners.
For Pakistan, developments involving Saudi Arabia, Iran and Yemen are particularly significant because of its relationships with countries across the Gulf as well as its geographical and diplomatic ties with Iran. Islamabad has continued to call for restraint and diplomatic engagement while expressing support for regional stability.
The UN General Assembly’s high-level debate is scheduled from September 22 to 26, with proceedings also continuing on September 28. The 81st session is being held under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan’s priorities at the UNGA will also include sustainable development, climate change, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, global economic challenges, UN reform and issues concerning the Global South. The situations in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir are also expected to feature in Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements.
Dar’s preliminary consultations will therefore take place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and a busy diplomatic agenda at the United Nations. His early arrival is expected to help Pakistan coordinate its position and prepare for the prime minister’s meetings and engagements during the UNGA week.
