NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump are set to hold a one-on-one meeting at the White House on Thursday, according to reliable sources.
The premier will travel to Washington tonight from New York, accompanied by a high-level delegation.
On Tuesday, PM Shehbaz joined leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Indonesia in a meeting with President Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The Gaza conflict topped the agenda.
According to the Emirati state news agency WAM, the discussions centred on securing a permanent ceasefire, releasing hostages, and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Trump told the Muslim leaders, “We want to end the war in Gaza and we will end it. It is possible that it may be ended now.” He described the gathering as one of the most important of his presidency, adding: “We are going to end something that we did not start.”
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After the meeting, Trump and the leaders departed without making further remarks, only waving to the media.
US media has reported that Washington is pressing Arab and Muslim countries to contribute peacekeeping forces to Gaza as part of a plan to facilitate an Israeli withdrawal.
