Taken | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- President Trump met with eight Muslim leaders, including Pakistan's PM Sharif, at the UNGA session.
- Trump unveiled a twenty-point plan to end the Israeli war in Gaza, focusing on immediate cessation of hostilities and a two-state solution path.
- The plan was welcomed by attending Muslim leaders, including PM Sharif and Erdogan, who issued a joint statement supporting it.
- The plan faced significant internal pushback and criticism in Pakistan from various groups, including left-leaning movements and religious parties.
- The author suggests that Pakistani cynicism often undermines positive diplomatic milestones due to underlying insecurity or political maneuvering.
A significant diplomatic event occurred when President Trump met with eight Muslim leaders, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Sharif, during the 80th UN General Assembly session, highlighting Pakistan's perceived status upgrade following recent geopolitical moves like a defense alliance with Saudi Arabia. Trump subsequently presented a twenty-point plan aimed at ending the Israeli war in Gaza, which the author found commendable for its immediate cessation of hostilities and clear path toward a two-state solution. This plan was welcomed by the attending Muslim leaders, who issued a joint statement endorsing it, while only Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas stood to lose politically. In Pakistan, the plan initially faced criticism from various factions, including left-leaning movements and religious parties like Jamaat-e-Islami and TLP, whose objections evolved as the plan's specifics were revealed. The author notes a recurring pattern of cynicism in Pakistan where positive milestones are often met with suspicion and internal 'tamasha' (spectacle), suggesting deeper issues of insecurity or vested interests among critics.
