ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan’s delegation to the high-level segment of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Thursday.
Addressing a weekly press briefing, the spokesperson said the prime minister would present Pakistan’s position on regional and global developments and stress dialogue, diplomacy, restraint and peaceful resolution of disputes.
The 81st UNGA session is being held under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.” The general debate is scheduled for September 22 to 26, with a final sitting on September 28.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, federal ministers and senior officials will accompany the prime minister.
According to the Foreign Office, Shehbaz Sharif will highlight Pakistan’s priorities on sustainable development, climate change, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, global economic challenges, UN reforms and issues facing the Global South.
He will also raise the situations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.
During his visit, the prime minister is expected to attend high-level events and hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and the UN secretary-general, highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, the UN Charter, regional peace and international cooperation.
Pakistan voices concern over Bab al-Mandab
The Foreign Office expressed serious concern over the situation in Bab al-Mandab, a major international maritime chokepoint.
Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan urged Yemen’s Houthis to stop their activities and called for peace and stability across the region through dialogue and diplomacy rather than coercive measures.
He said Pakistan was closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and strongly condemned attacks on holy sites.
Khan praised the Saudi armed forces for thwarting an attack and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to implementing the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and the trilateral Makkah Defence Alliance.
Pakistan protests Indian naval manoeuvre
Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with India over what it described as “highly provocative and unacceptable” action by an Indian naval vessel inside Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone on September 15.
The Foreign Office said the Indian vessel allegedly carried out aggressive manoeuvres dangerously close to a Pakistani naval ship during the Pakistan Navy’s annual SEASPARK-26 exercise, resulting in contact between the two vessels.
The incident, according to the spokesperson, violated international law and the 1991 bilateral agreement concerning advance notification of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements.
Pakistan urged India to comply with international law and bilateral commitments and called for responsible conduct to protect regional peace and stability.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi will also lodge a demarche with India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the spokesperson said.
FO rejects India’s allegations
The Foreign Office rejected Indian allegations concerning the Pak-China border commission, describing China as a “trusted partner” of Pakistan.
Khan also rejected what he called an Indian campaign concerning Sikh pilgrims travelling to Pakistan.
He said Pakistan would continue issuing visas to Sikh pilgrims and that the next Baisakhi festival would be celebrated with enthusiasm.