Pakistan stands out amid flurry of diplomacy at UNGA

New York, 22 September 2023: Pakistan captured the spotlight amid a flurry of diplomatic activity at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar engaged in whirlwind meetings with world leaders, persistently pushing for a diplomatic solution to the US-Iran conflict that has impacted global trade and energy markets.

Although Prime Minister Shehbaz is scheduled to address the UNGA tomorrow (Thursday), US President Donald Trump, in his speech, praised the Pakistani leader as a "terrific man" and attributed resolving several conflicts to his efforts, including the Pakistan-India standoff, Thailand-Cambodia, Armenia-Azerbaijan, and the Gaza conflict.

Pakistan's diplomatic efforts gained traction when US President Trump revealed a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation on the sidelines of the UNGA. The meeting, described as "productive," resulted in plans for another session in the near future. Diplomatic sources at the United Nations reported that Pakistan had been quietly urging both Washington and Tehran to maintain indirect contacts and remain open to direct talks.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed his appreciation for Pakistan's leadership in mediating between Washington and Tehran, calling it a "great achievement" and emphasizing the importance of diplomacy in ending the conflict. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was expected to address the UNGA and hold bilateral meetings with world leaders on Wednesday, acknowledged Pakistan's mediation process and had conveyed proposals to Washington through mediators.