Updates from UNGA: Pakistan ready to promote peace, PM Shehbaz says after meeting Iran's president at UN

Pakistan is ready to help promote peace and de-escalate tensions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday (September 24) after meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the United Nations.

The meeting took place during the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, bringing world leaders together in New York.

Speaking to reporters, Shehbaz described their meeting as “very good” and said he had assured Pezeshkian of Islamabad’s willingness to support a peace process.

He described Islamabad’s Memorandum of Understanding as “very comprehensive” and said the Iranian president agreed with him, without providing further details of the document.

Asked whether negotiations could succeed given the distance between Israeli and Iranian positions, Sharif acknowledged obstacles but expressed optimism.

“Never has peace been easy to achieve. There are hurdles, there are impediments, but we are hopeful,” he said, adding that countries should work together and seek support from other friendly nations.

Lebanon backs Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts

Meanwhile Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised Pakistan’s efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the US-Iran conflict and prevent its further escalation.

Salam said Pakistan had spent the past month working to ease tensions and pursue a diplomatic resolution, adding that he hoped Islamabad would succeed in bringing down tensions across the region.

He also thanked PM Shehbaz for Pakistan’s efforts concerning the situation in Lebanon.

Pakistan has continued diplomatic efforts to keep channels open between Washington and Tehran, with Pakistani officials maintaining contacts with both sides. Qatar is also involved in shuttle diplomacy between the US and Iran in New York.

PM Shehbaz is scheduled to address the UNGA on Friday.

Pakistan, Bangladesh vow to boost trade, investment, connectivity

After meeting his Bangladeshi counterpart Tarique Rahman, PM Shehbaz, in a post on X, said Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to further deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, while maintaining close coordination on regional and global issues as well as at multilateral fora.

Pakistan and Bangladesh have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

The resolve was expressed during a meeting between PM Shehbaz and PM Tarique, held on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The two prime ministers reviewed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-Bangladesh ties. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments and emphasized the importance of continued coordination at multilateral fora, particularly the United Nations.

Shehbaz congratulated Bangladesh on assuming the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly and expressed Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh’s efforts to advance the objectives of the United Nations.

Reciprocating the sentiment, PM Tarique expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and noted his government’s keen desire to enhance Bangladesh-Pakistan relations.