Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York and highlight Modi government's human rights violations after annexation of Kashmir and the ensuing Pakistan-India tensions.
Diplomatic sources told Business Recorder that the Prime Minister along with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi would leave for Saudi Arabia tomorrow (Thursday) on a two-day visit and stop over in Riyadh to discuss those issues with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
Talks in Saudi Arabia, according to sources, will focus on prevailing regional situation, including the Kashmir issue as well as Pakistan's economic situation. The Prime Minister is also likely to discuss the pledged Saudi investment in a refinery and chemical sectors in Pakistan announced by the Crown Prince during his visit to the country last year.
After staying for two days in Saudi Arabia, the sources said that the Prime Minister along with his delegation would leave for New York where he would raise the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly Session and appraise the international community about the current situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir due to a lockdown that began on August 4, 2019.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the UNGA on September 27 after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech who will also be addressing the world forum the same day.
Talking to reporters at the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump said he would be meeting India Prime Minister Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Khan, adding that "a lot of progress has been made in reducing tensions" between the two countries.
The sources said that during the meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Khan, the two would exchange views on the escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India as well as the latest break in US-Taliban talks.
The Prime Minister is expected to urge the US President to resume the peace process with the Taliban, as Pakistan has been emphasizing that the only solution to Afghan conflict is through negotiations.
"The Prime Minister will present the Kashmir case at the UNGA and to President Trump, and call for resumption of the stalled peace process between the US and Afghan Taliban. He would also reiterate Pakistan's commitment to facilitate the Afghan peace process which is a shared responsibility," said a senior diplomat to Business Recorder.
He pointed out that US President offered his mediation between the two countries on Kashmir on several occasions, but India was reluctant to accept any mediation.
During Prime Minister Khan's visit to the US in July 2019, President Trump offered mediation and again reiterated the offer in August. New Delhi, however, rejected the offer, saying any discussion on Kashmir would be between India and Pakistan.
"After India's unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, there is no possibility left to discuss the issue with India bilaterally. We would press the world community to resolve the dispute under the UN Security Council resolutions," the diplomat asserted.
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