It has been reliably learnt from sources within the Foreign Office that Prime Minister Imran Khan shall be addressing the upcoming 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) being held in New York City during the latter half of September 2019. Reportedly, a comprehensive plan is being chalked out for the prime minister’s next visit to the United States which would include bilateral talks with several world leaders on the side-lines of the UNGA session. He hadjust concluded an official working visit to Washington DC earlier this week whose outcome resulted in a much-needed positive breakthrough in US-Pakistan relations that were at their lowest ebb for quite a prolonged period of time.
Several complex issues such as the Afghan peace process, counter-terrorism initiatives, intelligence sharing and prospects of expanding trade ties were discussed upon at the recent White House meeting between the PM and US President Donald Trump who were accompanied by key respective members of their official delegations.
Since assuming office in August 2018, this was PM Khan’s first visit to a key diplomatic capital in the West. Last year the PM opted out of attending the preceding 73rd UNGA session in New York and his decision to attend this time was widely anticipated.
Stakes in the wider region are already high with several pressing issues requiring utmost priority such as the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IoK), Afghanistan’s political future and brewing standoff between the US and Iran. How PM Khan looks to resolve them would likely remain amongst the key highlights of his UNGA address and side-line meetings in New York.
