Shehbaz, Erdogan discuss regional and global developments; Premier reiterates Pak commitment to strengthen relations with Kuwait
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Indian-held Kashmir and ensure Kashmiris’ right to self-determination during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York,
Briefing the Secretary-General on the situation in illegally Indian-held Kashmir (IIHK), the premier underscored Pakistan’s serious concerns over India’s actions in the valley and stressed the need to resolve the dispute to ensure lasting peace and stability in South Asia, Radio Pakistan reported.
“We discussed the need for urgent action to resolve the Jammu & Kashmir Dispute; called for [an] immediate end to Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza and Lebanon; and highlighted the need to combat Islamophobia,” the prime minister wrote on X.
The UN Secretary-General Guterres thanked the PM for Pakistan’s active engagement at the United Nations, as well as for its role towards international peace and security through its UN peacekeeping force.
PM Shehbaz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday agreed to further strengthen “mutually beneficial cooperation” between their countries in various areas, including trade and security, the Foreign Office said.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the FO said PM Shehbaz and Erdogan met each other in New York on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“Both leaders discussed the bilateral matters and agreed to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, defence and security domains,” the statement said.
“They assessed preparations for the upcoming 7th session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) to be held in Islamabad soon,” it added.
According to the FO, the two leaders also called for an “immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end of hostilities” as they discussed “regional and global developments, especially the ongoing genocide and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza”.
The prime minister appreciated Turkiye’s “firm and consistent support for the oppressed people” of India-occupied Kashmir.
During the meeting, the FO said, President Erdogan “expressed his admiration for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s economic policies, which have played a crucial role in stabilising Pakistan’s economy and commended the prime minister for his leadership and commitment to economic reform”.
President Erdogan “took the opportunity to extend his heartfelt birthday wishes” to PM Shehbaz, the statement added.
“Thank you Mr. President, for your warm wishes on my birthday and your appreciation of our economic reform agenda. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between our two countries,” he added.
The prime minister also held a meeting with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, on the sidelines of the annual UN event, PTV News said on X.
They discussed cooperation in various fields, including political, economic and defence sectors, the post said.
PM Shehbaz expressed his determination to increase economic ties and investment between Kuwait and Pakistan under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), it added.
