Prince Rahim Aga Khan lauds PM Shehbaz's regional peace efforts at UN

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met Prince Rahim Aga Khan V on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, with the prince paying tribute to PM Shehbaz's efforts for regional peace and stability at a time of heightened tensions. According to a post on X by the Government of Pakistan, the premier warmly welcomed Prince Rahim and fondly recalled their meeting earlier this year during the Aga Khan’s visit to Pakistan. “The prime minister appreciated the commitment of Prince Rahim Aga Khan to maintaining longstanding friendly and positive relations with Pakistan and reiterated his resolve to continue close cooperation with him for achieving the shared objectives of peace, stability and development,” the statement said. It added that PM Shehbaz “appreciated the longstanding services of the Ismaili community in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and highlighted its valuable tradition of service to society and civic engagement.” Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session, in New York The Prime Minister warmly welcomed His Highness and fondly recalled their meeting during the Aga Khan's visit to… pic.twitter.com/nqYBmEjXUc — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) September 25, 2026 The premier also appreciated the contributions of institutions affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in promoting financial inclusion, tourism, the preservation of cultural heritage and economic empowerment through the participation of local communities. According to the statement, PM Shehbaz “emphasised the importance of fully leveraging the vast potential for further cooperation in these areas to promote sustainable and inclusive development in Pakistan.” Read: PM Shehbaz invites US businesses to invest in country's agriculture, mining, IT, AI Prince Rahim "reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and AKDN," the government's statement said, adding that the prince "also expressed his desire to continue and expand cooperation in various areas of human development for the welfare of the people of Pakistan, particularly in health, education, building resilience to the impacts of climate change, and sustainable social and economic development.” PM Shehbaz invited Prince Rahim to "visit Pakistan regularly so that the bonds of friendship and cooperation, established over decades, could be further strengthened and deepened," the statement said. PM Shehbaz meets with UN chief Separately, PM Shehbaz met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, discussing major regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan. According to a post by the Government of Pakistan on X, PM Shehbaz "reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in promoting international peace and development," reiterating "Pakistan’s strong attachment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter." Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York today. In a wide-ranging discussion, the Prime Minister reaffirmed… pic.twitter.com/DLHKwTSZ2f — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) September 25, 2026 The statement noted that PM Shehbaz "deeply appreciated" Guterres' leadership "and lauded his principled role in upholding the UN Charter across the entire spectrum of the organisation’s work for the betterment of humanity." According to the statement, the premier "stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving regional tensions and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region." The statement added that PM Shehbaz also "reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and statehood." Read More: Islamabad MoU remains acceptable to Iran, Pezeshkian tells PM Shehbaz in UNGA meet Further, he "sensitised the secretary-general on the rising trend of Islamophobia, especially in our immediate neighbourhood, necessitating effective international action to curb its prevalence." Discussing the situation in Afghanistan and the "drastic increase in terrorism emanating from Afghan soil," Guterres "commended Pakistan’s leading role and strong voice at the UN, contribution to international peace and security and particularly appreciated the important mediation efforts undertaken by Pakistan for peaceful resolution of the conflict and durable peace and stability in the region," the statement noted.  "The secretary-general also appreciated Pakistan’s role and sacrifices in countering terrorism," it concluded.