By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif voiced optimism on Sunday that a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Muslim leaders in Washington this week could yield ‘encouraging’ results in efforts to halt Israel’s invasion of Gaza, as he described Pakistan’s involvement in the push to end the conflict and the oppression faced by Palestinians.
“We fully participated in the meeting on Gaza, and God willing, its encouraging results will come out soon,” Sharif said, addressing a gathering of overseas Pakistanis at the High Commission in London, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at his side.
Sharif, who led Pakistan’s delegation to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this month, also expressed deep distress over the situation in Gaza, which has endured an Israeli onslaught since October 2023. He prayed for an end to the “cruelty and barbarity” unfolding there, noting that more than 64,000 Palestinians had been martyred in the violence.
The prime minister’s comments came amid reports of Trump’s proposal to resolve the Gaza crisis, which was discussed during a sidelines meeting at the UNGA that included leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye and Indonesia.
Ahead of the formal consultations, Trump told his guests: “We have to get the hostages back … This is the group that can do it, more than any other group in the world … so it’s an honour to be with you.”
Trump underscored the need for swift action, saying: “We had 32 meetings here, this is the one that’s very important because we’re gonna end something that should’ve probably never started.”
According to reports from Israel’s Channel 12 and the US-based Axios, Trump’s plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, both alive and deceased; a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza; governance excluding Hamas but incorporating the Palestinian Authority; the deployment of Arab and Muslim peacekeepers to secure Gaza and facilitate Israel’s withdrawal; and internationally supported reconstruction and transition programs funded by regional contributors.
These elements were reportedly shared with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though Israel did not draft the plan.
Sharif emphasised Pakistan’s role in the Trump-led initiative, telling the audience that his country was part of US efforts to bring peace to Palestine and end the oppression against the people of Gaza, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
During the event, Sharif reflected on his broader engagements in New York, where he said his speech at the UNGA captured the sentiments of Pakistanis and that he fought the case of India-occupied Kashmir there.
He also discussed a separate bilateral meeting with Trump in Washington during the recent US trip, calling it a “productive” and “constructive” engagement held in a “conducive environment.” Sharif expressed hope that it would help further strengthen Pakistan-US ties, adding that relations with the United States had improved following the meeting.
“We have won the war and inflicted a decisive defeat on the enemy [India],” Sharif said, adding that Pakistan is now advancing on diplomatic, economic and military fronts through sincere and coordinated teamwork.
Turning to domestic matters, Sharif praised expatriates as a valuable national asset for their role in supporting Pakistan’s development. “You are great Pakistanis serving your country with dedication,” he told the audience.
He noted that just a few years ago, the economy was struggling, but now stability and growth had set in. “Every team needs a captain, but if ten players do not play their role, the captain cannot do anything,” Sharif said, emphasizing teamwork as the foundation of national progress.
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