Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrived in London on a brief stopover before heading to the United States to address the United Nations General Assembly.

He was welcomed at Luton Airport by High Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Faisal and escorted to his destination with police protocol.

Sharif will spend two days in London before departing for the United States, where he will deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly.

According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will not be traveling to New York due to diplomatic engagements and preparations for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government meeting. The spokesperson confirmed that Prime Minister Sharif’s participation in the UN General Assembly remains unchanged.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, told American media that a formal meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and President Biden is not scheduled on the sidelines of the UN session. However, the Prime Minister is expected to meet with the UN Secretary-General and other heads of state.

Akram further stated that “geography cannot be changed,” emphasizing the need for Pakistan to maintain relations with neighboring countries. Despite disagreements with the Afghan Taliban’s policies, he highlighted the importance of maintaining communication. He acknowledged several issues but stressed that Pakistan’s relationship is with the Afghan people.

He reiterated that the relationship between Afghanistan and the Pakistani people remains unchanged. Pakistan is taking necessary actions to ensure its security, and its stance remains firm. He expressed Pakistan’s desire to see the unfreezing of Afghan assets and to rectify the Afghan government’s mistakes. He also emphasized that Pakistan has a comprehensive policy regarding Afghanistan, which will continue.