Bilawal meets Blinken today to reset ties

FM arrives NY to attend UN meeting on global food security

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reached New York on Tuesday to participate in a ministerial meeting and debate at the United Nations Security Council on food security, besides holding a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Upon his arrival at the airport, Bilawal was received by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Masood Khan, Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Aamir Khan, Consul General New York, Ayesha Ali and others, said a report.

In New York, Bilawal would attend a ministerial meeting on ‘Global Food Security – Call for Action’ and the Security Council’s open debate on ‘Maintenance of International Peace and Security – Conflict and Food Security’. On the sidelines of the meetings, he would hold a bilateral meeting with Blinken.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad said that the foreign minister was visiting New York for a ministerial meeting at the United Nations on Wednesday (today), where he would highlight Pakistan’s perspective and policy priorities on the issue of food security.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said in a separate statement that the meeting between Bilawal and Blinken was also scheduled for Wednesday (today), adding that he would also meet with German and Italian delegations.

“The Global Food Security Summit is important to us as we are counted among the countries undergoing food shortages. The foreign minister will present Pakistan's position in these important meetings,” Khar said.

“We will use every platform in a positive and powerful way. We will point out that Pakistan never wants to be part of the conflict. Human rights abuses in occupied Jammu and Kashmir will be effectively highlighted,” the statement added. “We will take care of Pakistan's interests.”

On the fringes of the UN meetings, Khar said, the foreign minister would hold bilateral meetings with the delegations from Germany and Italy, there. “The foreign minister will meet with Antonin Blinken on May 18,” she said, adding that Bilawal’s visit to China was expected after the United States.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)