Trump, Muslim leaders explore Gaza peace options

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday met with eight leaders from Muslim and Arab countries, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, terming it his "most important meeting".

Also present in the meeting were Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

"We want to end the war in Gaza. We're going to end it. Maybe we can end it right now," Trump told reporters at the start of the session, calling the gathering crucial for regional peace. He also praised Indonesian President Subianto's UNGA speech, in which he stressed that lasting peace requires guaranteeing Israel's security.

The 50-minute meeting focused on the Gaza and Middle East situation.

According to US media earlier, Trump was set to propose Arab and Muslim states send troops to Gaza to enable an Israeli withdrawal, while also contributing funds for reconstruction and governance.

Muslim leaders tabled their own ideas for peace, though no joint action plan was announced.

Afterward, Shehbaz and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held an informal exchange with Trump.

Erdogan described his engagement with the US president as positive.

Separately, Sharif met Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker. Sharif also reaffirmed long-term ties with Saudi Arabia in a message marking its National Day, hailing Riyadh's economic support as vital for Pakistan's stability.

He said relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia — founded on Islam, history, brotherhood, and trust — will remain everlasting. Referring to his recent visit to Riyadh, he expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him, saying it was a source of great pride and joy.

He thanked the Saudi people once again from the bottom of his heart. He added that the Pakistani nation could not forget Saudi Arabia's economic assistance, which helped stabilise Pakistan's economy.

The services of the Pakistani community in the kingdom, he said, contributed to the prosperity of both nations.

Shehbaz concluded by emphasising Pakistan's determination to further strengthen this long-standing partnership.

(WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)