Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is expected to highlight Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing US Iran war when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month.
The PM is scheduled to speak on September 25 during the high level debate of the 81st UNGA session. The conflict between Washington and Tehran is expected to dominate discussions among world leaders, alongside concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, regional stability and the search for a diplomatic way out.
Pakistan is expected to use the UN forum to reinforce its position that the confrontation should be resolved through negotiations rather than prolonged military action. Shehbaz is also expected to highlight Islamabad’s contacts with countries involved in efforts to reduce tensions.
The timing allows Pakistan to present its diplomatic role before a global audience as the conflict continues to affect security and energy supplies across the region.
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the UNGA on September 22, while Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to speak on September 24. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is currently listed to address the assembly on September 23, although Tehran has not yet confirmed whether he will travel to New York.
Pakistan’s involvement comes with particular significance because of its geographical proximity to Iran and its close security and economic links with the Gulf. Islamabad has repeatedly called for dialogue and de escalation while seeking to avoid becoming directly involved in the conflict.
The UN itself will face another Iran related diplomatic test before the leaders’ speeches begin. The Security Council is due to vote on September 17 on extending the mandate of the panel monitoring sanctions on Iran. The mandate expires during the UNGA's high level week, potentially adding another point of confrontation between Western powers and Russia and China.
The UNGA session formally opened on Wednesday, with Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman assuming the presidency. Its official theme is “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All”.
For Pakistan, however, the immediate priority will be the war reshaping its neighbourhood. Shehbaz’s address will offer Islamabad a chance not only to call for an end to the fighting, but also to demonstrate whether its diplomatic outreach can contribute to a way out of the crisis.
With the Strait of Hormuz, regional security and energy markets already under pressure, Pakistan's message at the UN is likely to be as much about protecting its own interests as advocating for a wider peace.
