Pakistani foreign minister in New York for UNGA focused on pandemic, Afghanistan, Iran

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (L) sits with Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram as they speak to AFP on the sidelines of the high-level 76th UNGA session in New York, U.S., on September 20, 2021. (AFP)

• Qureshi said on Monday evening no one in a rush to recognize the Taliban government 
• UNGA this year will focus on boosting efforts to fight climate change and COVID-19 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday he would be holding a number of bilateral meetings with counterparts and leaders of the United Nations in New York this week ahead of the UN General Assembly that will focus on boosting efforts to fight climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, with discussions on Afghanistan and Iran also expected.
As the coronavirus still rages amid an inequitable vaccine rollout, about a third of the 193 UN states are planning to again send videos, but presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers for the remainder are due to travel to the United States.
Qureshi said PM Khan would “deliver Pakistan’s policy address virtually.”

 

Good to be in New York for #UNGA76 where PM @ImranKhanPTI will deliver Pakistan’s policy address virtually. Pleased to be participating in various high-level meetings and side events, along with holding a diversity of bilateral meetings with my counterparts and UN leadership.

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) September 21, 2021

On Monday evening, Qureshi said Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers should understand that if they wanted recognition and assistance in rebuilding the war-battered country “they have to be more sensitive and more receptive to international opinion and norms.”
He said countries were watching to see how things evolved in Afghanistan before considering recognition: “I don’t think anyone is in a rush to recognize at this stage.”