Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to meet former US President Donald Trump on September 23 during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host a reception dinner for attending heads of state and government at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Madison Avenue that evening.

PM Shehbaz has received an invitation to this event, which will gather numerous global leaders, providing him a significant platform to engage with other heads of state and government. This meeting with Trump will mark their first in-person interaction in seven months, following the Board of Peace meeting held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Arriving in New York from London a day before the reception, PM Shehbaz is scheduled to deliver his address to the UN General Assembly on September 25. His speech is expected to focus on the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India, referencing the recent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that dismissed India’s claims.

Notably, Pakistan has received assurances of support from both its traditional allies and several other countries regarding its stance on the treaty. The prime minister will also highlight the Kashmir dispute, emphasizing its ongoing threat to regional and international peace.

In addition, he will outline Pakistan’s contributions toward regional stability and its diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire and ending hostilities in the Middle East. PM Shehbaz is also anticipated to mention the trilateral collective security agreement signed last month in Makkah between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye.

Further, the prime minister will update the international community on Pakistan’s counterterrorism initiatives and express concerns over terrorism allegedly sponsored by India, including the use of Afghan territory as a conduit for such activities.

During the UNGA session, PM Shehbaz is expected to hold multiple bilateral meetings with world leaders. Among these is a planned first meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The high-level General Debate of the 81st UNGA is scheduled from September 22 to 26 at the UN headquarters in New York, with PM Shehbaz slated to be the fourth speaker in the second half of the session on September 25.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the UNGA for the second year in a row. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to speak on September 24, while Afghanistan is set to be among the final speakers on the session’s concluding day.