Shehbaz Sharif UNGA Talks: PM, Dar Engage World Leaders

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was busy at the Shehbaz Sharif UNGA sidelines this week, holding a series of important meetings with world leaders in New York.

He sat down with the leaders of Kenya and Kuwait during the high-level segment of the 81st UN General Assembly. He also had informal chats with Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

His meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto stood out. Both leaders agreed to build stronger ties between their two countries and spoke about deeper cooperation in trade, defence, education and everyday people-to-people contact.

Shehbaz pointed to pharmaceuticals, textiles, surgical tools and farming as fields with real trade potential. He invited Kenyan businesses to look into Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones for future investment.

He also spoke about working more closely with the East African Community and encouraged stronger business links between Pakistani and Kenyan companies.

In turn, President Ruto praised Pakistan’s efforts in helping calm recent tensions in West Asia and the Gulf. The two sides also touched on wider global issues like peace, security and sustainable growth, agreeing to make better use of existing diplomatic channels between the two nations.

Talks with Kuwait were equally warm. The prime minister met Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and both sides discussed growing their partnership in trade, energy and workforce development. Regional stability was also a shared concern raised in the meeting.

Shehbaz’s separate conversations with Austria and Somalia focused on bilateral matters and topics of mutual benefit for both nations.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar took a firmer tone on Afghanistan at a meeting of the OIC Contact Group. He called for clear, verifiable steps to stop Afghan soil from being used against Pakistan and other neighbours.

Dar brought up the recent attack in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which claimed civilian lives and left many injured. He said the attack was proof of the real danger still coming from across the border.

He urged the Afghan Taliban to meet their international responsibilities, cut ties with militant groups, build a more inclusive government and help resettle Afghan returnees smoothly.

Dar didn’t stop there. He also called on the Taliban to end restrictions on Afghan women and girls, saying such curbs go against Islamic teachings and the values of Muslim societies.

He asked the global community to step up funding for Afghanistan’s humanitarian and development needs, while reaffirming Pakistan’s hope for a peaceful, stable Afghanistan.

On the sidelines, Dar also met Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The two discussed strengthening ties further and shared views on Middle East developments, agreeing that dialogue remains the best path to lasting peace.

Together, these meetings show Pakistan pushing hard on two fronts at the UN this year — building new economic partnerships while pressing firmly on regional security threats.