Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House tomorrow, with peace in Gaza as the main focus. The prime minister will travel to Washington today from New York, accompanied by senior Pakistani officials.
High-level talks on Gaza
The formal meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and Trump comes after the prime minister’s participation in a key gathering of Arab and Islamic leaders in New York. The summit focused on ending what leaders described as the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Trump called the talks “very important,” stressing the need to stop the war and release hostages.
Calls from Muslim leaders
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani urged an immediate ceasefire and release of prisoners, offering to mediate in the conflict. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described discussions with Sharif as “fruitful,” while Jordan’s King Abdullah and Indonesia’s president also met the Pakistani leader to review Gaza’s worsening situation.
Sharif praises US role
Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Trump’s efforts, calling him “a champion of peace.” He pointed to Trump’s past role in preventing a potential conflict between Pakistan and India. The prime minister, joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, stressed that lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis could only come through negotiations.
US stance on Gaza
Trump said a ceasefire must be tied to the release of hostages, warning that immediate recognition of Palestine as a state would, in his view, reward Hamas’ actions. He emphasized that ending the war was “the greatest need of the hour.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that a Palestinian state should be established but not used for attacks against Israel.
Broader Arab participation
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, and Indonesia joined the New York summit. The UAE’s foreign minister reaffirmed support for peace efforts, focusing on a ceasefire and hostage release.
After the summit, Trump met Sharif separately in a friendly setting, where both agreed to continue cooperation for regional peace. Speaking to the media, Trump said his meeting with Muslim leaders was “very good” and confirmed that Israel would join the next round of talks.
In other news read more about Ishaq Dar Calls on OIC, UN to Step Up Support for Palestine and Muslim World
