Trump Mentions Shehbaz Sharif, Erdogan Highlights Kashmir at UNGA; Jaishankar Absent From Main Hall

On the first day of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, US President Donald Trump prominently mentioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his speech, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a prominent reference to Kashmir in his address. No special praise of any kind for India was made in either speech.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, despite being present in New York, was not present in the main General Assembly hall during either speech, while no official reason for his absence has emerged.

Diplomatic circles are considering his absence significant because both leaders raised points that are regarded as uncomfortable for India. Trump and Erdogan both spoke about issues that are diplomatically sensitive for India.

In his address, US President Donald Trump described Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a “great man” and said that the Pakistani prime minister had thanked him, while claiming that his intervention had helped save the lives of nearly 30 million people.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through negotiations within the framework of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.

Erdogan’s position on Kashmir is in line with Pakistan’s longstanding diplomatic position, while India has in the past objected to similar statements by the Turkish president.