Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, calling it a vital step towards peace in the Middle East.
“I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza,” Shairf said in a statement on Monday, adding that durable peace between Palestinians and Israel was essential to bring “political stability and economic growth to the region.”
He voiced confidence in Washington’s commitment to help secure an agreement. “It is also my firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to make this extremely important and urgent understanding become a reality,” he said.
I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 29, 2025
I am also convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region.
It is also my firm belief that…
The prime minister praised Trump’s leadership and highlighted the role of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in brokering efforts to halt the conflict. “I laud President Trump’s leadership and the vital role played by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in bringing an end to this war,” he said.
Shehbaz also underscored Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution. “I strongly believe that the implementation of the two-state proposal is essential to ensure lasting peace in the region,” he said.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump hosted Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to push the Israeli prime minister to accept his peace plan. "I am, I'm very confident," Trump told reporters as he greeted Netanyahu when asked if he was confident there would be peace in Gaza.
He repeated "very confident" when asked if all parties were on board with the 21-point plan to end the nearly two-year war, free hostages held by Hamas and disarm the Palestinian militants.
Trump's plan for Gaza
Trump's plan, according to The Times of Israel and US news site Axios, calls for an immediate ceasefire, a phased Israeli withdrawal and the release of hostages within 48 hours. Israel would then free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including several serving life terms.
Normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, the US president has shown increasing signs of frustration ahead of the Israeli premier's fourth White House visit since Trump's return to power. Trump was infuriated by Israel's recent strike on Hamas members in key US ally Qatar.
Read More: Trump pushes Netanyahu to accept Gaza peace plan
And he warned Netanyahu last week against annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as some of Netanyahu's cabinet members have urged, a move that would seriously complicate the route to Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu's coalition government is propped up by the far-right ministers who oppose a peace deal. The path to a deal remains strewn with pitfalls.
Both Israel and the Arab states are still quibbling with the wording of key parts of the peace plan, including the role any international force and of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority in post-War Gaza.
"The likelihood of... a reformed Palestinian Authority that changes completely its stripes, that accepts a Jewish state... well, good luck," Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview Sunday.
Trump meets Shehbaz, Muslim leaders
Last week, Trump held meetings with leaders of Muslim-majority nations, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the escalating Gaza crisis.
Key issues raised included the release of hostages, ending hostilities, and plans for Israel’s eventual withdrawal from Gaza. Trump also outlined Washington’s vision for post-war governance in the territory, explicitly excluding Hamas from administrative control, according to US media.
The US reportedly encouraged Muslim and Arab nations to consider contributing military support to facilitate Israel’s withdrawal and to provide funding for reconstruction and stabilisation efforts in Gaza.
PM Shehbaz joined the discussions amid growing international concern over the conflict, while Trump praised the collective efforts of participating leaders. “You all have done an excellent job, which is commendable,” he remarked.
White House rolls out red carpet for PM Shehbaz
Sharif was among top officials from eight Arab and Muslim countries who met Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss strategy on ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Upon arrival at Andrews Air Base, the prime minister was welcomed by a senior US air force official. The prime minister's motorcade left the airbase in the ring of US security. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also accompanied the prime minister.
"We have a great leader coming – the Prime Minister of Pakistan, along with the Field Marshal of Pakistan. Field Marshal is a very great guy, and so is the Prime Minister. Both are coming, and they may be in this room right now," said Trump.
On the US side, participants in the meeting included the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and senior defense officials, along with President Donald Trump.
PM calls for peace, dialogue at UNGA session
Earlier, addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Shehbaz hailed the decisive response of Pakistan’s armed forces to Indian aggression as one that 'will echo through the annals of history'. However, he called for peace, saying, “We have won the war, and now we seek to win peace.”
He said, “Pakistan’s foreign policy, guided by the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, is rooted in peace, mutual respect, and cooperation. We believe in the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.”
He recalled that, from the same podium last year, he had warned that Pakistan would act decisively against external aggression. “Those words of mine proved true. When in May this year, my country confronted unprovoked aggression from our eastern front, the enemy came shrouded in arrogance; we sent them back in humiliation, delivering a bloody nose,” he said.
The PM declared that Pakistan had shot down seven Indian aircraft as an act of self-defence under the UN Charter in response to the India aggression. He also extended an offer to India for a comprehensive and result-oriented dialogue on all outstanding issues, emphasising that South Asia needs proactive, not provocative, leadership.
Reiterating Pakistan’s resolve to defend the right of its 240 million people to the Indus waters, the prime minister warned that any violation of the treaty would be viewed as 'an act of war'.
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