From putting strained Pak-US ties back on rails, to demanding the United Nations to appoint a special envoy on Kashmir, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi forcefully highlighted Pakistan's successes against terrorism and its openness for global investment during his five-day visit to the United States.
Though the main agenda of the prime minister's visit to New York, from September 18 to 22, was to address the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, he cashed in on the occasion to meet the world leaders, think-tanks and business community to apprise them of a changed Pakistan that had successfully restored peace on its soil by crushing the terrorist elements.
Besides raising Indian sponsoring of terrorism in Pakistan, Prime Minister Abbasi urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the UN to play their role against the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. Of his 27 back-to-back engagements included his speeches at the UNGA, OIC Contact Group, media interactions and meetings with leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Turkey, Nepal, Iran and Sri Lanka, but also to present Pakistan's case better to the world.
Moreover, his other engagements included meetings with the heads of World Bank, World Economic Forum, UN Secretary-General, besides interaction at the Council of Foreign Relations. In his debut address to the 193-member world body, the prime minister called for expeditious steps towards the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir with the appointment of a Special Envoy to promote a just and peaceful settlement of the festering dispute.
"The international community must act decisively to prevent the situation from a dangerous escalation," he said. In his wide-ranging address, the Prime Minister also spoke about Pakistan's desire for peace in war-torn Afghanistan, its counter terrorism efforts and sacrifices, the Middle East situation, UN reforms, climate change and the country's economic stability and consolidation of democracy. He also made it a point to speak of Islamabad's desire for peace with its neighbours, saying Pakistan remains open to resuming a comprehensive dialogue with India to address all outstanding issues, especially Kashmir.
He urged the United Nations Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to send an inquiry Commission to Occupied Kashmir to verify the nature and extent of India's human rights violations, secure the punishment of those responsible and provide justice and relief to the victims.