NEW YORK, Sept 18 (APP): With Kashmir high on his agenda, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived in New York Sunday afternoon to lead the Pakistani delegation to the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he would enunciate Islamabad’s position on key global and regional issues before one of the largest gatherings of leaders from around the world.
He was received at New York’s Kennedy International Airport by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, the Ambassador to the United States, Jalil Abbas Jilani, and senior officials of the Pakistani Mission.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s delegation includes Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told reporters that the prime minister would go through a tight schedule, including addressing the 193-member Assembly on September 21 and meeting at least ten world leaders, among other activities.
He said the prime minister would specifically focus on the current situation in Indian occupied Kashmir, particularly the continuing grave violations of human rights taking place there.
The foreign secretary said the prime minister would call on the international community and the United Nations to live up to their promise of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The Indian-held Kashmir was witnessing a massive uprising in which at least 80 people had been killed while some 10,000 were injured, including 700 who were rendered completely or partially blind due to use of pellet guns by Indian forces.
According to a PM House statement, on the sidelines of the UNGA, the prime minister would hold bilateral meetings with President of Iran, prime ministers of Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Nepal and Romnia and UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon. US Secretary of State John Kerry would also call on the prime minister.
Besides, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would also meet Crown Prince/Deputy Prime Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
During his bilateral meetings, the prime minister would apprise the world leaders about secure, stable and economically vibrant Pakistan that had been ensured after countless sacrifices of valiant security forces of the country, Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), police personnel and unarmed civilians backed by unflinching resolve of the entire nation against terrorism and extremism.
The prime minister would explain to world leaders, the new concept of diplomacy translated by Pakistan and China into reality in the shape of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC would not only be a game changer for Pakistan but would also be the fate changer for the region.
Among his other engagements in New York, he would also address a business meeting organized by the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would make two other statements at the UN meetings on the global refugees crisis.
He would be joined in New York by the Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz and other senior officials.
