Pakistan’s deputy PM to visit US next week for key UN events and diplomatic meetings

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, will travel to the United States next week for a dual-purpose visit encompassing high-level engagements at the United Nations in New York and official meetings in Washington, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

Dar’s upcoming visit follows a recent series of high-profile diplomatic interactions between Pakistan and the United States. Just a month ago, Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, made a five-day official trip to the US, which included a closed-door meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.

The meeting was seen in Islamabad as a significant diplomatic breakthrough. Munir’s visit came in the wake of the India-Pakistan aerial confrontation in May, which had raised fears of escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Prior to the army chief’s visit, a high-level Pakistani delegation led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited the US in early June. The nine-member parliamentary team held engagements with diplomats, think tanks, and the Pakistani-American community to shore up international support following the regional tensions in May. The delegation later extended its outreach with a visit to the UK.

Dar himself had previously visited the US earlier this year after assuming office, during which he addressed a high-level debate at the UN Security Council.

Pakistan’s signature events at the UNSC

As part of its ongoing presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Pakistan will host a series of high-level signature events in New York next week. Deputy Prime Minister Dar will preside over these sessions, which include:

• An open debate on “Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes,” emphasizing diplomacy and conflict resolution.
• The Quarterly Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
• A high-level briefing on enhancing UN-OIC cooperation to strengthen multilateral efforts for global peace.
• A conference on the “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” underscoring Pakistan’s support for Palestinian self-determination.

While in New York, Dar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from various countries and senior UN officials.

The visit to New York and Washington highlights Pakistan’s active diplomatic engagement in multilateral affairs and its growing ties with the United States, the statement added.