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• Lauds US president as ‘architect of peace’ in interaction with overseas Pakistanis in UK
• Calls Saudi defence pact ‘historic pact’ with global impact
• Dar praises PM’s speech on Gaza and Kashmir, awaits follow-up talks
ISLAMABAD/LONDON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed the hope that US President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with the heads Muslim states on the sidelines of the UNGA would yield results and help pave the way for resolving Israeli aggression in Gaza.
“The meeting of Muslim leaders with President Trump, in which Pakistan also participated, was encouraging for the resolution of the Gaza conflict,” he said while addressing overseas Pakistanis at the High Commission in London, a day after departing the US. He was flanked by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
The prime minister expressed deep distress over the situation in Gaza, which has faced relentless Israeli attacks since October 2023, and prayed for an end to what he called “cruelty and barbarity.”
Trump’s meeting with Muslim leaders during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York brought together leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, and Indonesia.
Before the formal consultations, Trump told his guests: “We have to get the hostages back … This is the group that can do it, more than any other group in the world … so it’s an honour to be with you.” He further stressed the urgency of ending the conflict, saying: “We had 32 meetings here, this is the one that’s very important because we’re gonna end something that should’ve probably never started.”
According to media reports, Trump’s plan envisions an immediate ceasefire and the release of prisoners (alive and deceased); a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza; governance excluding Hamas but involving the Palestinian Authority; deployment of Arab and Muslim peacekeepers to secure Gaza and facilitate Israel’s withdrawal; and internationally supported reconstruction and transition programmes funded by regional contributors.
These details were reportedly shared with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though Israel did not draft the plan.
Earlier during his address, PM Shehbaz also referred to his engagements in New York, where he led Pakistan’s delegation to the UNGA’s 80th session. He said his speech at the UNGA reflected the sentiments of Pakistanis and that he had strongly presented the case of India-occupied Kashmir there.
The prime minister also mentioned his bilateral meeting with Trump in Washington during the recent US trip, saying that it was a “productive” and “constructive” engagement.
“It was held in a conducive environment,” he said, expressing hope it would help further strengthen Pakistan-US relations.
‘Architect of peace’
PM Shehbaz credited US President Donald Trump for preventing what he described as a potentially catastrophic war in South Asia, calling him the “architect of peace” in the region.
“Had US President Donald Trump not intervened, South Asia could have witnessed a major war. Millions could have suffered. There was a huge danger.”
“For this reason, we nominated President Trump for a peace prize — in recognition of his statesmanship and vision,” PM Shehbaz added.
The prime minister also underscored the close working relationship between the civilian leadership and Pakistan’s military command. “General Asim Munir is a true nationalist. He only cares for Pakistan,” he said. “Under his leadership, both the military and the Air Force have achieved remarkable successes.”
Reaffirming the strong civil-military alignment, the premier added, “General Munir and I consult on all major decisions. We are fully on the same page.”
‘Historic pact’
The prime minister also highlighted the significance of a recently concluded defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, calling it a “historic pact” with “global impact.” The agreement, he said, carried a broader message of “peace and cooperation” for the world. He said he had briefed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in detail about his meetings with Trump and other key international leaders. “Mian Nawaz Sharif has been fully supportive and is endorsing all the steps taken during the visits,” he stated.
Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who also attended the meeting with Trump in the US, expressed the hope for positive outcomes of the meeting, saying that once these results materialised, “we will share them with the nation”. He also said that follow-up communications after the meeting were ongoing until last night.
Mr Dar praised Prime Minister Shehbaz for raising the issues of Gaza and India-occupied Kashmir “in a vigorous manner.” He said the PM’s UNGA speech had become a top trend, as he had pleaded the case of the entire Muslim Ummah for a peaceful resolution of the Gaza conflict, where more than 65,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces.
Without naming the main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the deputy prime minister criticised the party for what he called destablising the country’s economy. He said: “Besides May 9 incidents, the previous regime PTI regime has dragged Pakistan down from 24th to 48th position among world economies.”
“In the early days, the present government (of PML-N) was focused on stabilising the crippling economy, and now we are concentrating on progress and prosperity of the country,” Mr Dar added.
Our correspondent in London also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2025
