As the Gaza conflict dominated speeches at the UN General Assembly, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined a select group of Muslim leaders in a closed-door meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York. Analysts say Pakistan’s presence highlights its rising importance in Middle Eastern diplomacy — an influence further underscored by a recent strategic defence pact with Saudi Arabia.
According to BBC Urdu, the sideline meeting in New York, hosted by the United States and Qatar, brought together heads of state from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, and Pakistan. No formal communiqué was issued, leaving unclear what specific positions were taken.
However, in President Trump’s own words, he urged leaders to play a role in securing the release of Israeli hostages and in negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza, telling them: “This group is better placed than any other to do this.”
Observers argue that Pakistan’s inclusion highlights its growing strategic weight in the Middle East, particularly in the wake of a much-discussed new defence pact with Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s Rising Diplomatic Standing
Concern over security in the Gulf has intensified following Israel’s recent strikes on Doha. Just days before the New York meeting, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic defence agreement under which aggression against one state would be considered aggression against the other.
Traditionally, the United States was seen as the guarantor of Gulf security. But analysts believe Pakistan’s presence on this diplomatic stage signals both shifting regional alignments and Islamabad’s rising visibility.
Former Pakistani ambassador to the UN and the US, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, told BBC Urdu: “Pakistan is an important country of the Muslim world. Pakistan has influence in the Middle East and recently signed a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia. That is why Pakistan was present at the meeting on Gaza.”
“Pakistan is an active diplomatic player on the global stage. Its inclusion in such meetings shows that its diplomatic standing is very strong. In recent months, Pakistan has achieved several diplomatic successes that have further strengthened its position.” she added.
Gaza, US Diplomacy, and Pakistan’s Strategic Leverage
Dr Qandeel Abbas of Quaid-i-Azam University said the Gaza war has not only resonated worldwide but also left the United States increasingly isolated as many of its close Western allies have recognised a Palestinian state.
“This war has diplomatically isolated the US, and through this meeting, Trump wanted to give the impression that Arab and important Muslim states still trust him,” he said.
On Pakistan’s role, Dr Abbas noted: “Pakistan is a militarily powerful country. If Trump wants to hand Gaza over to Gulf states after Israel’s withdrawal, with joint military forces deployed there, then Pakistan’s importance rises significantly.”
Omar Karim of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh told BBC Urdu that Trump had invited those countries “that are quite active on the Gaza issue.”
Karim said that after the war with India in May, Pakistan’s global standing grew: “Pakistan gave a strong response to India. After that, the Army Chief’s meeting with the US President in Washington suggested Pakistan was moving closer to the US.”
Social Media Buzz Over Shehbaz–Trump Encounter
According to BBC Urdu, Shehbaz Sharif’s brief exchange with President Trump also lit up social media. Video clips of the encounter were widely shared on X, with some users calling it a diplomatic win.
Indian academic Ashok Swain of Sweden’s Uppsala University wrote on X: “Shehbaz Sharif is attending the UNGA and meeting Trump with other Muslim leaders to stop the war in Gaza, while Modi, instead of attending the 80th UNGA, is hiding in India, afraid of facing Trump.”
Analyst Mosharraf Zaidi also shared the video on X, noting that Pakistan’s flag stood at the centre during the meeting: “Pakistan is the country that provides security to the region and is indispensable for the world.”
