UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will arrive in New York on Wednesday to attend the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, which began on Monday.

He will address the General Assembly on Friday.

During his short, three-day stay, the prime minister is so far scheduled to meet only US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry. Pakistan’s UN Mission is also trying to arrange his meetings with leaders of some neighbouring and Muslim states.

No meeting is scheduled with US President Barack Obama.

Diplomatic circles in Washington and New York, however, were focusing on a possible meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, who is paying his first visit to the United Nations as India’s new, elected leader.

But Indian officials say that the Modi-Sharif meeting will not happen. Mr Modi arrives in New York on Sept 27, the day Mr Sharif will leave for Islamabad, further reducing the chances of a meeting.

Indian journalists in Washington have told the Indian press corps that they were not sure if a Modi-Sharif meeting could lead to a major improvement in India-Pakistan ties.

They argue that the current political crisis has weakened Mr Sharif and New Delhi fears that he is not in a position to make major decisions, domestic or external.

The Indians will also be watching how the Pakistani delegation tackles the Kashmir dispute during the current General Assembly session. Senior South Asian diplomats at the UN point out that a strong emphasis on this dispute can embarrass Mr Modi at home while ignoring the issue can be dangerous for Mr Sharif.

Mr Modi, who addresses the General Assembly on Sept 27, will also address a big rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden before leaving for Washington on Sept 29 for a two-day official visit.

The visit to Washington is seen as a major victory for the Indian leader who, until recently, was on a US list of persons who did not qualify for a US visa because of his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

But his strong victory in this year’s general elections changed the entire scenario. Now Washington views Mr Modi as a leader who can help the United States strengthen its position in Asia, balance China’s growing influence, and can also open the lucrative Indian market for Americans.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2014