FM Dar arrives in New York for United Nations General Assembly session

Foreign minister's packed agenda includes discussions on Kashmir, Palestine, AI alongside talks with counterparts

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday arrived in New York to participate in the upcoming high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

According to the Foreign Office, Dar was received by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Consul General New York Aamer Ahmed Atozai and officers of Pakistan’s Mission to the UN and Consulate in New York.

According to the FO, FM Dar "has a full programme of high-level engagements in the week ahead." The foreign minister "will participate in ministerial forums and deliver Pakistan’s statements and interventions on key issues of importance to Pakistan, including bilateral, regional and international priorities across the UN agenda."

Alongside accompanying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, FM Dar "will hold a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts and participate in a range of high-level engagements on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly," the FO said.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 arrived in New York to participate in the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He was received by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim… pic.twitter.com/yZ4lqRjL9y

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 21, 2026

The foreign minister departed for New York from Islamabad yesterday. The FO had said that FM Dar would be in New York from September 21 to 25 to attend the UNGA, adding that he had an “extensive and wide-ranging programme” planned during the high-level week.

As part of his engagements, the FO said that FM Dar will attend a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, where he will highlight Pakistan’s “unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris.” He will also attend several OIC ministerial meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA, including the OIC Foreign Ministers’ Annual Coordination Meeting and other OIC Contact Group meetings.

Read: Mideast turmoil, AI set to dominate UN gathering of world leaders

The FO added that FM Dar will attend several high-level meetings on Palestine “as a reflection of Pakistan’s strong support for the Palestinian cause.” These will include a meeting of the Group of Eight Arab Islamic countries and a high-level ministerial meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

FM Dar is also scheduled to address a UN Security Council high-level briefing on artificial intelligence, and will additionally attend a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The foreign minister will also chair the meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Council of Ministers.

Further, FM Dar will hold bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts from several countries during his visit to New York.

“During his extensive engagements, he will highlight Pakistan’s ongoing efforts for regional and international peace and stability,” the FO had said.