Pakistan Prime Minister’s US visit follows defence deal with Saudi; Meanwhile Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks on the sidelines of the UNGA session, according to a public schedule released by the US Department of State
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he arrives on Monday for a five-day visit. The meeting, also involving a select group of Muslim leaders, comes at a time when Islamabad has signed a landmark defence pact with Saudi Arabia—an alignment that bolsters Pakistan’s regional standing.
India is watching these developments closely, like other geopolitical happenings, say those in know of developments. Union Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also hold talks on the sidelines of the UNGA session, according to a public schedule released by the US Department of State.
Jaishankar’s discussions with Rubio are expected to focus on trade negotiations and the Trump administration’s recent decision to raise H-1B visa fees. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar following Trump’s imposition of an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, taking the total levies imposed on India by the Trump White House to 50 per cent.
So far as Pakistan is concerned, Sharif will participate in high-level UN events, including the Security Council, the Global Development Initiative, and a Special Event on Climate Action. He will also hold bilateral talks with world leaders and UN officials to deepen cooperation on issues of mutual interest, according to reports
The Pakistan PM is expected to use the opportunity to press for the resolution of “protracted” issues, urging decisive international action. He is also expected to articulate Pakistan’s position on climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, sustainable development, and regional stability.
The Saudi-Pakistan defence pact signals closer strategic cooperation, though it is unlikely to alter the military balance against India in the near term, its impact lies in optics and geopolitics, embolding Islamabad to project itself more forcefully at global platforms, say analysts
“Sharif’s high-profile US visit, meeting with Trump and UN address provides Pakistan an opportunity to spotlight issues like Kashmir and Gaza while rallying support from Muslim leaders. With the Saudi pact in hand, Islamabad may gain added leverage in Islamic forums. For India, the concern is less about direct security threats and more about narrative battles. Pakistan’s strengthened positioning, diplomatic leverage in Muslim-majority forums, may complicate India’s efforts,” they add..
