PM Shehbaz leaves for Gaza peace summit on Trump, Sisi’s invitation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Sharm el-Sheikh at the special invitation of US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, where he will attend the Gaza ceasefire peace summit.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.

The meeting will be attended by several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

This meeting is a continuation of the efforts of President Trump, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and leaders of Arab and Islamic countries for a ceasefire in Gaza on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

In a joint statement issued on the occasion, the heads of several countries, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, welcomed the US President’s plan for sustainable peace, development and human security in Gaza.

The Prime Minister’s participation in this meeting reflects Pakistan’s long-standing position that political and diplomatic efforts will continue at all levels to protect the rights of the Palestinian people, achieve a ceasefire and provide humanitarian assistance.

Pakistan hopes that after this peace agreement, an end to the atrocities in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the rehabilitation of the affected areas will be possible.

Islamabad is of the view that these measures will not only lead to the establishment of lasting peace in the Middle East but will also pave the way for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders in accordance with UN resolutions, with Jerusalem as its capital.