PM Shehbaz meets Trump, calls him ‘champion of peace
Shahzad Raza: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to meet US President Donald Trump tomorrow at the White House, where the two leaders will hold talks with a key focus on peace in Gaza.
The prime minister, along with senior Pakistani officials, will travel to Washington later today from New York.
High-stakes meeting at White House
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump will hold formal talks tomorrow in Washington. The meeting comes after Sharif joined the most important gathering of Arab and Islamic leaders in New York, aimed at stopping what they described as the genocide of oppressed Palestinian citizens in Gaza.
Key Muslim leaders call for ceasefire
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani urged an immediate ceasefire, an end to the s-called war and the release of prisoners. He also expressed readiness to play the role of mediator and that the US leadership would play a key role in this difficult time.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the talks as “fruitful,” while Jordan’s King Abdullah and Indonesia’s President also met with Sharif earlier in New York to discuss Gaza’s worsening situation.
Shehbaz Sharif welcomes Trump’s role
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Trump’s commitment to establishing peace, calling him “truly a champion of peace.” He highlighted Trump’s role in preventing a potentially devastating war between Pakistan and India.
Sharif, joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, stressed that a permanent solution between Palestinians and Israelis was only possible through negotiations.
US position on Gaza and Palestine
While urging a ceasefire, President Trump warned that recognizing Palestine as a state would amount to rewarding what he described as Hamas’ atrocities. He instead supported an agreement that tied a ceasefire to the release of hostages.
He called for an immediate ceasefire and cooperation for peace in Gaza, saying the war should have been stopped even at the beginning and now it must be ended. “Now, ending the war is the greatest need of the hour,” Trump stated.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, saying a Palestinian state must be created, but it “should not be used for attacks on Israel”. He remarked that a permanent solution between Palestinians and Israelis was only possible through a negotiated settlement.
