Prime Minister Imran Khan left for New York yesterday morning to attend the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
During his week-long visit to US, he will hold several meetings with counterparts from various countries and participate in high-level UN summits on climate change, sustainable development, universal health coverage, and financing for development.
The prime minister’s visit will be Kashmir-centric, revolving around India’s decision to revoke the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir and the alleged ongoing human rights abuses in the disputed territory.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Finance Dr Hafeez Shaikh, and Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfikar Bukhari are accompanying the prime minister.
US President Donald Trump is slated to meet Prime Minister Khan tomorrow (Monday, September 23) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the next day (Tuesday, September 24) in New York.
According to reports in the Indian media, the meetings with the Pakistani and Indian premiers would be held in New York on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, a senior US administration official said.
Prime Minister Khan is slated to address the UN General Assembly session on September 27.
Prior to the UN General Assembly session, the premier will meet the heads of various states and apprise them about the Indian government’s alleged violations of human rights in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Khan will also attend and speak at high-level side events co-hosted by Pakistan and Turkey on countering hate speech and on environmental protection and poverty alleviation, co-hosted by Malaysia and Pakistan.
A trilateral summit meeting of Pakistan, Malaysia, and Turkey will also be held on the sidelines.
Prime Minister Khan will also interact with a cross-section of international media outlets, including meetings with editorial boards.
His speaking engagements at leading think-tanks and meetings with heads of major international human rights organisations are also envisaged.
His US visit will further reinforce Pakistan’s abiding commitment to the UN Charter, international law and co-operative multilateralism, with the UN at its core.
On Thursday, Khan arrived in Saudi Arabia for a two-day visit where he met King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
The two sides underlined the deep and multi-faceted quality of the relationship.
They reiterated the resolve to further intensify bilateral trade, energy investment and people-to-people contacts.
During his meetings with the Saudi leadership, Prime Minister Khan strongly condemned the recent attacks on Saudi oil installations.
He also assured Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia against any threat to its security and territorial integrity.
On the issue Kashmir, he highlighted the alleged dire human rights situation in the valley and the grave risks posed to peace and security in the aftermath of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5.
Khan also performed the Umrah in Makkah.
His wife Bushra Begum accompanied him during the holy rituals.