Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hit back at India over its terrorism allegations at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with Second Secretary Muhammad Rashid calling New Delhi not just a &ldquo;serial perpetrator of terrorism, but also a regional bully.&rdquo;&nbsp;Exercising its right of reply, Pakistan rejected Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar&rsquo;s remarks and accused New Delhi of destabilizing the region.&nbsp;&ldquo;This country is not just a serial perpetrator of terrorism, it is a regional bully &mdash; a net destabilizer for the entire region,&rdquo; said Rashid, Pakistan&rsquo;s second secretary to the UN. He added that Pakistan had sacrificed over 90,000 lives in fighting terrorism and remained committed to global counter-terrorism efforts.&nbsp;Rashid alleged that India&rsquo;s intelligence networks have been implicated in supporting armed groups beyond its borders. &ldquo;Undermining regional stability and violating international law is a habit for India,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The Pakistani diplomat condemned India for mocking Pakistan&rsquo;s name during its intervention. &ldquo;Such language reflects neither maturity nor responsibility. By resorting to cheap slurs, India diminishes its own credibility on the world stage,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1972112399743299642&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3c8b9063872c14d905e26ea5fd5a70355bc2411f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; min-height: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div></div>&nbsp;&quot;We are one of the strongest pillars in leading global efforts for combating terrorism, as also highlighted by my prime minister at this forum,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Pakistan and India engaged in a four-day fight &mdash; their worst in decades &mdash; after New Delhi&rsquo;s unprovoked assault on Islamabad following a terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India blames Pakistan for the attack, a charge that Islamabad has vehemently denied.&nbsp;Rashid said that India itself has been implicated in supporting and sponsoring terrorism beyond its borders. &quot;Credible reports are pointing to networks run by Indian intelligence agencies to destabilise its neighboring countries.&quot;&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s state counsellor slams IndiaRashid&#39;s comments come hours after Pakistan&#39;s state counsellor Saima Saleem condemned India&rsquo;s &ldquo;state-sponsored terrorism as policy at home and abroad.&rdquo; She asserted that Indian hypocrisy is now fully exposed and that it can no longer hide its aiding, abetting, and financing of terrorism in Pakistan. &ldquo;[Through] its covert terrorist networks across the region, and its reign of terror in occupied Kashmir&hellip; Indian-sponsored terrorism has not just claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians in Pakistan, it has turned places of worship, learning, and livelihood into sites of carnage&rdquo;, said Saleem. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f9UR4-TznWI?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> The statement highlighted the sacrifices by Pakistan in the fight against global terrorism and acknowledged the recognition Islamabad has received from the international community. Referring to the Pahalgam attack in April this year, Saleem reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s condemnation of the incident and called for a credible, impartial investigation into the incident. The statement recalled the aggression played by India in response to the incident despite Pakistan&rsquo;s call for restraint, dialogue and diplomacy, a stance echoed by the international community, resulting in the killing of innocent lives, including women and children, in Pakistan. Saleem described India&rsquo;s &ldquo;reckless brinkmanship and provocative posturing&rdquo; as exposing its &ldquo;hegemonic ambitions&rdquo;. The statement criticized the violation of the Indus Water Treaty by holding it in abeyance and weaponizing the water, which serves as a lifeline for 240 million people, branding India a &ldquo;blatant violator of international law&rdquo;, said the statement. It further highlighted the persecution of minorities as a &quot;state policy of RSS-BJP government in India&quot; and Islamophobia, which has been institutionalized in law by India, said the statement. Pakistan has consistently highlighted India&rsquo;s state-sponsored terror networks on international forums, exposing its destabilizing role in the country and region.

Asia

Exercising its right of reply, Pakistan rejects Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s remarks and accuses New Delhi of destabilizing the region.

Pakistan slams India as ‘serial perpetrator of terrorism’ in UN spat

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held a series of high-level meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.&nbsp;Meeting with Bangladesh&rsquo;s chief adviserPrime Minister Shehbaz met Bangladesh&rsquo;s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, where the two leaders discussed Dhaka&rsquo;s upcoming general elections and reforms introduced by the interim government. According to a statement shared by Yunus on X, the meeting also touched upon exploring alternatives to SAARC, which has largely remained inactive in recent years, and ways to boost regional cooperation.&nbsp;Yunus conveyed condolences over the devastating floods in Pakistan that claimed more than 1,000 lives. In response, PM Shehbaz stressed the link between climate change and such natural disasters. He also extended an invitation to Professor Yunus to visit Pakistan before the interim government&rsquo;s tenure concludes. National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman and senior Bangladeshi officials attended the meeting.&nbsp;Engagement with Bill GatesOn the sidelines, PM Shehbaz also held a bilateral meeting with Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation. The premier appreciated the Foundation&rsquo;s substantial support during Pakistan&rsquo;s 2025 floods, while highlighting government initiatives in economic reforms, digital transformation, and cashless systems. Both reaffirmed their commitment to deepen collaboration in health, nutrition, technology, and socio-economic development.&nbsp;Talks with Sri LankaShehbaz Sharif also met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Their discussions focused on trade, educational exchanges, cultural ties, and defense cooperation. The prime minister reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to advancing bilateral engagement and praised the two nations&rsquo; close coordination at multilateral forums.&nbsp;Deputy PM Dar&rsquo;s diplomatic outreachDeputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar separately met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty, discussing regional security, multilateral cooperation, and efforts to further strengthen Pakistan-Egypt ties.&nbsp;Dar also met Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Pr&eacute;vot. Both sides stressed enhancing collaboration in trade, education, climate change, and development.&nbsp;In a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, Dar underscored the importance of deepening Pakistan&ndash;UK relations. He highlighted the pivotal role of the Pakistani diaspora in building stronger people-to-people connections, while both sides exchanged views on global and regional issues, as well as trade and investment opportunities.&nbsp;Strengthening global partnershipsThe meetings highlight Islamabad&rsquo;s efforts to engage actively with key partners in South Asia, Europe, and beyond. With a focus on trade, climate resilience, regional cooperation, and digital transformation, Pakistan signaled its intention to deepen bilateral ties while seeking broader multilateral collaboration on pressing global challenges.

Foreign Affairs

PM Sharif and Deputy PM Dar held multiple UNGA sidelines meetings with leaders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Belgium, UK, and Bill Gates, focusing on trade, climate, digital reforms, and regional cooperation.

Pakistan delegation holds key bilateral meetings on UNGA sidelines

ISLAMABAD: Iran has welcomed the defense pact between Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a &ldquo;beginning for a comprehensive regional security system with the cooperation of the Muslim states of West Asia in the political, security, and defense domains&rdquo;. &nbsp;&nbsp; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated, &ldquo;Iran welcomes the defensive pact between the two brotherly Muslim countries, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan&rdquo;, while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-6" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1970856570415206833&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=0694ba007bfe0945f9eda993896e78df390988cc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 674px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1970856570415206833"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed landmark mutual defence agreement, under which any aggression against one state will be considered an attack on both.&nbsp; The pact was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh last week. The Iranian president further said that Tehran does not intend to build nuclear weapons. &#39;Will never seek to build a nuclear bomb&#39;&quot;I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons&rdquo; he said, adding that his country supports a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction. Pezeshkian accused the US and its allies of double standards, saying they expand nuclear arsenals while pressuring Iran. He condemned Britain, France and Germany for voting to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, calling it done &ldquo;at the behest of the United States of America.&rdquo; &ldquo;In doing so, they set aside good faith,&rdquo; said Pezeshkian. &#39;Betrayal of peace&#39; Blaming Israel and the US for destabilizing the region and betraying diplomacy with military strikes on Iran, he called the assaults a &ldquo;grave betrayal of peace.&rdquo; Displaying images of those killed, Pezeshkian delivered his first UN address since the 12-day Israel-Iran war, which Tehran says claimed the lives of many senior military and political leaders. On Ukraine, he urged a negotiated end to the conflict, saying Iran &ldquo;hopes that the efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine may result in a just and lasting agreement between Russia and Ukraine and bring solace to the human suffering caused by this crisis.&rdquo; The Iranian leader also voiced solidarity with Qatar following recent strikes. &ldquo;Iran condemns the aggression of the Israeli regime against Qatar, and declares solidarity with the people of Qatar,&rdquo; he said.

Middle East

Iran welcomed the Pakistan-Saudi defense pact as a start for regional Muslim security cooperation. President Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s non-nuclear stance, criticized Western sanctions, condemned Israel and the US for regional destabilization, and urged peace in Ukraine. 

Iranian president welcomes Pakistan-Saudi defense pact 

UNITED NATIONS: Turning the page on decades of distance, Syria&rsquo;s president addressed the UN General Assembly, marking the first time any president from his country has done so in almost 60 years.&nbsp;Ahmad al-Sharaa said on Wednesday that Syria is returning to the international community after six decades of dictatorship that killed 1 million people and tortured hundreds of thousands.&nbsp;&ldquo;Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world,&rdquo; he told the assembly&rsquo;s annual gathering of world leaders.&nbsp;Al-Sharaa became the first Syrian head of state to speak at the United Nations since Noureddine Attasi gave a speech in 1967 shortly after the Arab-Israeli war, during which Damascus lost control of the Golan Heights that Israel later annexed in 1981.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Assad family dynasty&rsquo;s autocratic, repressive 50-year rule in Syria abruptly collapsed in December, when then-President Bashar Assad was ousted in a lightning insurgent offensive led by al-Sharaa. Assad&rsquo;s fall ended nearly 14 years of civil war.&nbsp;Al-Sharaa blasted Israel in his speech, saying that it did not stop its threats to his country since the fall of President Bashar Assad in December, adding that its policies &ldquo;contradict with the international community&rsquo;s support to Syria and its people&rdquo; and endanger the region.&nbsp;Negotiations have been underway for a security deal that al-Sharaa has said he hopes will bring about a withdrawal of Israeli forces and return to a 1974 disengagement agreement. While al-Sharaa said last week that a deal could be reached in a matter of days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks Sunday, appeared to downplay the odds of a breakthrough.

Syria interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Syria’s president addressed the UN General Assembly for the first time in nearly 60 years, marking the country’s return after Assad’s ouster. Ahmad al-Sharaa condemned Israel and called for regional stability talks.

Syrian president addresses UN for first time in six decades

ISLAMABAD: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized international institutions and emphasized the decisive role of weapons in national survival during his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.&nbsp;President Zelensky is attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held between September 23 and 29.&nbsp;In his speech, he strongly criticized global institutions and international systems for their ineffectiveness in resolving conflicts, pointing to ongoing crises in Sudan, Somalia, Palestine, and Gaza, all trapped in prolonged violence despite repeated statements from international bodies.&nbsp;Zelensky declared that it is not international law or cooperation, but weapons that determine who survives, stressing that international law is meaningless without powerful allies and military strength.&nbsp;Criticism of RussiaTurning his focus to Russia, Zelensky condemned Moscow&rsquo;s actions, accusing it of abducting &ldquo;thousands of Ukrainian children.&rdquo; He also warned of the ongoing threat posed by Russia&rsquo;s occupation of Ukraine&#39;s nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.&nbsp;&ldquo;Last year, I warned the world about the risk of radiation disasters due to Russia&rsquo;s occupation,&rdquo; he said, expressing frustration that &ldquo;nothing&rsquo;s changed,&rdquo; even after the plant recently experienced a blackout.&nbsp;The Ukrainian leader called for immediate and unified action to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that inaction risks a broader and more dangerous conflict.&nbsp;As international institutions remain &ldquo;too weak,&rdquo; Zelensky said, &ldquo;this madness continues.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that it is now less costly to stop Putin than to protect every port and every ship from Russian attacks.&nbsp;Zelensky argued that the war must be stopped, even &ldquo;if it takes weapons to do [so],&rdquo; warning that otherwise Russia will continue to push &ldquo;the war forward [and] deeper.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Failure of UN, international law&rsquo;Zelensky also addressed what he described as the broader collapse of international law, citing the Taliban&rsquo;s takeover of Afghanistan and the growing power of criminal cartels in Latin America as examples of weakened global governance.&nbsp;&ldquo;You know perfectly well international law doesn&rsquo;t work fully unless you have powerful friends who are truly willing to stand up for it, and even that doesn&#39;t work without weapons,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Criticizing the UN&rsquo;s role in Sudan, Somalia, and Palestine, Zelensky said that apart from issuing statements, &ldquo;everything happening in Gaza remains without a way out even now.&rdquo;&nbsp;He concluded that in a world where institutions are failing, it is the rise of weapons, not dialogue, that determines who survives.&nbsp;Drone allegationsZelensky also raised concerns over Russia&rsquo;s growing use of drone technology, noting recent airspace violations in Poland and Estonia, and warning of the emerging threat from autonomous drones powered by artificial intelligence.&nbsp;&ldquo;Just recently, 19 simple Russian drones violated Polish airspace, and only four were shut down,&rdquo; he stated.&nbsp;Discussing the accessibility of drones, Zelensky remarked that while drones were once exclusive to &ldquo;the strongest countries&rdquo; due to high costs, even basic drones can now fly thousands of kilometers.&nbsp;He highlighted how Ukrainian farmers are adapting to these evolving threats, learning to shield their equipment from Russian drone attacks, a challenge he said is becoming as serious as climate change.

Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at UNGA 80, criticized global institutions as too weak to stop wars, stressing that military power, not international law, is what ultimately determines survival in today’s world.

Zelensky at UNGA: International institutions ‘too weak’ to stop wars

ISLAMABAD: Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced Monday that Syria and Israel have entered &quot;advanced stages&quot; of discussions concerning a return to the 1974 armistice line, calling it a non-negotiable first step before any broader peace agreement can be considered.&nbsp;Al-Sharaa made the statement during the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit in New York, coinciding with his official visit to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held from September 23 to 29.&nbsp;The Syrian leader firmly ruled out Syria joining the Abraham Accords, citing key differences between Syria and the current signatory nations. &ldquo;There is a big difference between Syria and the countries that joined the Abraham Accords,&rdquo; he stated.&nbsp;Appointed president on January 29, 2025, by the Syrian General Command during the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference, al-Sharaa was formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda in Iraq in the early 2000s.&nbsp;He presented three primary reasons for Syria&rsquo;s stance:&nbsp;<ul><li>Israel&rsquo;s continued occupation of the Golan Heights, which he described as Syrian land under international law.</li><li>The fact that Abraham Accords members do not have land occupied by Israel.</li><li>The lack of shared borders between Israel and those signatory states.</li></ul>&nbsp;Despite expressing willingness to de-escalate tensions, al-Sharaa accused Israel of repeated aggression since his administration took power, claiming nearly 1,000 airstrikes and 400 ground incursions, including two bombings of the presidential palace.&nbsp;Still, he confirmed Syria is engaged in a multi-phase negotiation process. The first phase centers on a security agreement that would see Israel return to the 1974 disengagement lines established after the Yom Kippur War.&nbsp;&ldquo;If this succeeds,&rdquo; al-Sharaa said, &ldquo;perhaps this scene will evolve to discuss other issues related to the occupied Golan and the future of the relationship.&rdquo;&nbsp;He concluded, &ldquo;Discussions are underway regarding the 1974 security or armistice agreement, and I believe we have reached advanced stages.&rdquo;

Ahmed al-Sharaa stated peace with Israel requires returning to the 1974 armistice line, rejecting the Abraham Accords and accusing Israel of ongoing aggression, while confirming advanced talks on a phased negotiation process.

Israel must return to 1974 armistice line before peace talks: Syrian president

Gaitty Ara Anis

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian military aircraft if they violate NATO airspace, escalating his administration&rsquo;s rhetoric toward Moscow amid renewed regional tensions.&nbsp;&quot;Yes, I do,&quot; Trump said when asked by reporters if he supports such military action. He added that whether the US would back it militarily &ldquo;depends on the circumstance,&rdquo; as he prepared for a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.&nbsp;The comments come as NATO faces mounting pressure to respond to recent airspace violations. Poland and Estonia reported separate incidents involving Russian drones and fighter jets earlier this month, prompting NATO to warn Russia it would use &ldquo;all means&rdquo; to defend allied territory.&nbsp;Airspace breachesThe Kremlin has denied deliberate incursions, but NATO officials say the pattern of violations is increasingly aggressive. The alliance has bolstered its air defenses in Eastern Europe and reiterated its Article 5 commitment, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s approval of potential shootdowns could mark a significant policy shift, signaling a more confrontational stance by the US in defending NATO airspace.&nbsp;Trump slams UN&nbsp;Earlier, during an opening session of the 80th UN General Assembly, Trump criticized the global body for being ineffective in resolving global conflicts.&nbsp;&ldquo;I ended seven wars&hellip; and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle&hellip; and a teleprompter that didn&rsquo;t work.&rdquo;&nbsp;He claimed his administration helped end conflicts between Kosovo and Serbia, Pakistan and India, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and others through direct US diplomacy, without any UN involvement. Trump listed Cambodia and Thailand, Congo and Rwanda, Israel and Iran, and Egypt and Ethiopia among conflicts he claimed to have defused.&nbsp;&ldquo;Empty words don&rsquo;t solve war,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The only thing that solves wars is action.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump also pointed to the Abraham Accords, normalization deals between Israel and several Arab states brokered during his presidency, as examples of US leadership in global peace efforts, claiming the UN gave him &quot;no credit&quot; for the historic achievement.&nbsp;Trump on UkraineIn a notable policy shift, Trump said he now believes Ukraine can retake all of the territory lost to Russia since the 2022 invasion, if it receives sustained support from Europe and NATO.&nbsp;&quot;With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original borders from where this war started is very much an option,&quot; Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.&nbsp;He added that Russia has been fighting &quot;aimlessly&quot; in a war that a &quot;real military power&quot; would have won in less than a week, describing the Russian military effort as ineffective and faltering.&nbsp;&quot;Paper tiger&quot;Trump went further, describing Russia as a &ldquo;paper tiger&rdquo; and warning that internal unrest could grow as citizens in Moscow and elsewhere come to grips with the war&rsquo;s cost.&nbsp;&quot;When the people living in Moscow... find out what is really going on with this war... Ukraine would be able to take back their country in its original form, and who knows, maybe even go further than that!&quot; he wrote.&nbsp;Support for NATOWhile stopping short of promising direct US military involvement in Ukraine, Trump reaffirmed America&#39;s commitment to arming NATO allies.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all,&rdquo; he concluded in his post.&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s remarks are expected to spark renewed debate among US lawmakers and NATO allies about the West&rsquo;s strategy toward Russia, and how far the US is willing to go in defending Eastern Europe from further aggression. Additional inputs from AP

Americas

Criticizes the UN for failing to resolve global conflicts, claiming his administration ended seven wars in seven months without any help from the world body.

Trump backs shooting down Russian jets if NATO airspace violated

NEW YORK: The annual high-level gathering at the UN General Assembly this week will see more than 140 world leaders descend upon New York City in an effort to secure global peace and security despite growing divides on how to do that. Nearly 90 heads of state, 43 heads of government and one crown prince are among the dignitaries to appear on the UN stage beginning on Tuesday to make their case for how to bring an end to regional conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, while addressing the growing climate crisis and the dangers posed by the rapid development and use of artificial intelligence. Looming over the weeklong summit is the internal financial turmoil plaguing the United Nations as it celebrates the 80th anniversary of its founding, which emerged from the rubble of World War II. Questions about the UN&rsquo;s relevancy and efficiency have sharpened from supporters and critics alike. Recent US cuts to foreign assistance and the reevaluation of humanitarian contributions by other countries have forced a reckoning for the world body. Here are five things to look out for this week: Outcome of the two-state solution conferenceThe week began with a high-profile meeting chaired by France and Saudi Arabia focused on garnering support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The hours-long conference ended late Monday with several countries, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco, announcing or confirming their recognition of a Palestinian state, a day after the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal did. Germany, Italy and Japan took part in the conference but did not recognize such a state. The US and Israel boycotted the event, saying the international push for a Palestinian state rewards Hamas and makes it harder to reach a deal to halt the war and return the remaining hostages. It came as several US allies, including Canada and the United Kingdom, announced recognition of an independent Palestinian state over the weekend. The meeting and expanded recognition of Palestinian statehood will likely have little if any actual impact on the ground, where Israel is waging another major offensive in the Gaza Strip and expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long opposed Palestinian statehood, has threatened to take even further unilateral action in response. But proponents of the effort, including top UN officials, remain unpersuaded that recognition of Palestine is crucial at this stage of the conflict. As the US isolates, other world powers reaffirm climate pledgesMore than 110 world leaders will speak at a special UN climate summit on Wednesday, designed to get nations to strengthen their required but already late plans to wean themselves from coal, oil and natural gas that cause climate change. Dozens of business leaders are in New York networking in various conferences aimed at greener and cleaner energy. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t believe the doomsters and the gloomsters and the naysayers who say that somehow the world is moving away from climate action, clean energy,&rdquo; United Kingdom climate chief Ed Millibrand said. The nations of the world were all supposed to come up with new five-year plans for curbing carbon emissions by February, leading into the Brazil negotiations. But only 47 of the 195 nations &mdash; responsible for less than a quarter of global emissions &mdash; have done so. United Nations officials said they really need to be submitted by the end of this month so experts can calculate how the world is doing in its emission reduction efforts. The world&rsquo;s biggest emitter, China, and another top polluter, the European Union, are expected to announce their plans or rough sketches of their plans this week. The United Nations session this week is designed to cajole countries to do more. Trump returns to UN after retreating US from world stagePresident Donald Trump will be the second leader to speak when the General Assembly kicks off its debate Tuesday morning. Trump will be returning to the UN for the first time since beginning his second term in January. His speech will be among the most anticipated as America&rsquo;s allies and adversaries wait to see what the president will say about ongoing efforts to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. UN officials will be holding their breath to see if more funding cuts from the US &mdash; their largest donor &mdash; are on the horizon after Trump and his allies spent the first few months in office slashing international aid spending. He issued a first-day executive order withdrawing the US from the UN&rsquo;s World Health Organization. That was followed by ending US participation in the UN Human Rights Council, and ordering up a review of United States membership in hundreds of intergovernmental organizations aimed at determining whether they align with the priorities of his &ldquo;America First&rdquo; agenda. &ldquo;There are great hopes for it, but it&rsquo;s not being well run, to be honest,&rdquo; Trump told reporters last week as he prepared for his address to the General Assembly. Eyes on Syria and Iran&rsquo;s presidents at high-stakes momentFollowing Trump&rsquo;s remarks, the two other headline speakers come from the Middle East, where various conflicts have thrown the region into further tumult over the last several years. On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will appear on the UN stage at a moment of great magnitude for his country, as a 30-day window to stop the reimposition of sanctions on Tehran is closing at the end of this week. The clock started when France, Germany and the United Kingdom on Aug. 28 declared Iran wasn&rsquo;t complying with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. It also comes after a series of last-ditch diplomatic talks to avoid imposing UN sanctions appeared to break down in recent days, with European leaders accusing Iran of not being serious about the conditions outlined. Pezeshkian and his foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, have the next few days to meet with their European counterparts in New York to come to a resolution that would avoid the series of financial penalties that would push the already crippling Iranian economy into further disarray. A few hours later, Iran&rsquo;s once strategic ally, Syria, will debut its new leader, the first head of state to represent the war-torn country at the UN in nearly six decades. Ahmad al-Sharaa will officially represent the new Syria on the world stage for the first time since the ousting of then-President Bashar Assad in December by a lightning insurgent offensive led by al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa has spent nine months seeking to restore ties with Arab countries and the West, where officials were initially wary of his past ties with the al-Qaida militant group. His speech on Wednesday will also be watched closely by the US, which previously designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group al-Sharaa formerly led, as a terrorist group. All the meetings you won&rsquo;t seeSome of the most tantalizing and impactful diplomacy conducted during the UN General Assembly will likely happen behind the scenes during embassy receptions and at private dinners and drinks at some of Manhattan&rsquo;s most exclusive restaurants and clubs. The high-level week, noted by some UN watchers as the World Cup of diplomacy, is jam-packed with official and unofficial gatherings between heads of state and government, where complex trade deals, sensitive peace negotiations, and even normalization efforts between allies and adversaries alike could see breakthroughs. Officials state that more than 1,600 bilateral meetings are scheduled to take place inside the sprawling UN campus that oversees the East River.

Sphere Within Sphere outside the United Nations Headquarters on the first day of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly's High-Level week,

Over 140 world leaders convene in New York for the UN’s 80th General Assembly, tackling conflicts, climate pledges, AI risks, and financial strains. Key moments include Trump’s return, Palestine recognition, Iran’s sanctions deadline, Syria’s debut, and high-stakes backroom diplomacy.

UN General Assembly 2025: What you’ll see and what you won’t

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to global gender equality at the United Nations General Assembly&rsquo;s high-level meeting commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.&nbsp;Addressing the session, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s achievements and reiterated the need for collective global efforts to advance women&#39;s rights.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Beijing Declaration remains the boldest global compact for women&rsquo;s rights,&rdquo; Dar said. &ldquo;But commitments without resources remain unfulfilled promises. We must urgently scale up financing, through national budgets, international cooperation, and innovative partnerships.&rdquo;&nbsp;Dar emphasized that the empowerment of women has long been a national priority, rooted in the vision of Pakistan&rsquo;s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who declared that no nation can rise without women standing shoulder to shoulder with men.&nbsp;He pointed to Pakistan&rsquo;s strides in women&rsquo;s leadership and representation, noting that the country was the first in the Muslim world to elect a female prime minister and recently witnessed the historic election of the first woman chief minister of Punjab province.&nbsp;The deputy prime minister also highlighted institutional and legislative initiatives, including specialized gender-based violence courts, women police stations, and commissions at both national and provincial levels. Social protection programs like the Benazir Income Support Program and the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Youth Program have empowered women through financial access and entrepreneurship.&nbsp;While acknowledging progress, Dar cautioned that global and national efforts remain uneven.&nbsp;He urged accelerated action under the Beijing+30 agenda, calling on the international community to act with urgency, courage, and solidarity so that every woman and girl can live free from poverty and violence, and fully participate in inclusive development.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar urged stronger global financing and collaboration to advance women’s rights, highlighting national progress and calling for renewed action under the Beijing+30 agenda at the UN General Assembly.

At UN, Pakistan urges collective action and financing for gender equality

ISLAMABAD: Israeli forces have ordered the evacuation of the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza City&#39;s Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, where at least 300 patients are being treated, the health ministry said.&nbsp;The move comes as Israel expands its military offensive in Gaza, targeting &ldquo;Hamas infrastructure,&rdquo; and coincides with growing international recognition of a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in New York.&nbsp;Residents report intensifying clashes, with many families trapped in their homes. Israel has called for civilians to flee to central and southern Gaza, demanding that all humanitarian facilities, except hospitals, evacuate.&nbsp;Meanwhile, diplomatic support for Palestine is surging. Britain, Canada, Australia, Portugal, and possibly France have joined nearly 150 nations in recognizing Palestinian statehood. France and Saudi Arabia are pushing for renewed talks toward a two-state solution, though progress is hampered by US opposition and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s threat of unilateral annexation in the West Bank.&nbsp;Across Europe, acts of solidarity have multiplied. Paris lit up the Eiffel Tower with Palestinian and Israeli flags, while over 20 French municipalities raised Palestinian flags in defiance of a government ban.&nbsp;In Italy, unions staged a nationwide strike protesting their government&rsquo;s inaction on Gaza, and local officials in Ravenna blocked a shipment of explosives headed for Israel.

Israel ordered Gaza hospital evacuation amid intensifying operations, as global leaders at the UN back Palestinian statehood. European solidarity actions grow, while US opposition and Israeli threats complicate a two-state solution.

Articles tagged with "UNGA"