The 80th United Nations General Assembly was not just a diplomatic summit—it was a global media spectacle. Each year, the big question for the Pakistani delegation is: what can be achieved from this global platform beyond photo-ops with dignitaries and the customary addresses at a forum that seems to have lost its ability to find meaningful solutions for many global crises?
Pakistan’s delegation, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, arrived this year amidst a more upbeat environment following the recent conflict with India and the lavish praise the country had received from US President Donald Trump. The delegation conveyed a message of moral clarity, strategic ambiguity, and assertive symbolism.
### Sharif’s Emotionally Charged Speech
The Prime Minister’s speech at the UN General Assembly was emotionally charged and rhetorically bold. He condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, reaffirmed support for Kashmir, and praised Donald Trump for brokering peace with India. The optics were clearly designed to position Pakistan as a moral voice for the Muslim world.
However, the praise for Trump sounded somewhat out of place and raised questions about strategic coherence. Sharif’s speech appeared more tailored to domestic audiences than reflective of a clear foreign policy agenda. If Pakistan is aiming for a new position on the rapidly changing global diplomatic chessboard, it was not evident from this address.
### Media Response and Coverage
Sharif’s address and his subsequent meeting with US President Trump received moderate coverage in American media. Most of the reporting came from international and diaspora-focused outlets rather than mainstream US networks. Coverage largely focused on the symbolism of the meeting within the broader diplomatic efforts to address the Gaza crisis.
Notably, there was no major commentary or analysis from leading US outlets like CNN, The New York Times, or The Washington Post, suggesting the event was not a top-tier diplomatic priority in American media narratives.
### Controversy Over Slogans and Protocol Violations
Some members of the Pakistani contingent raised slogans from the gallery during the session—a clear violation of UN norms. This earned them the ire of other delegates and was widely regarded as being in bad taste.
UN security officials have since launched an investigation into how these individuals gained access and why slogans linked to Pakistan’s internal politics were voiced in a formal diplomatic setting. The United Nations General Assembly maintains strict protocol, especially concerning the visitors’ gallery, which is accessible only through passes issued by member states’ diplomatic missions.
### Questions Surrounding Dr. Shama Junejo’s Presence
Another point of controversy was the presence of Dr. Shama Junejo, a UK-based columnist and social media activist, as part of Pakistan’s delegation. Her seating directly behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a United Nations Security Council session on artificial intelligence sparked social media commentary.
This raised a critical question: how did an individual not officially listed in the delegation’s letter of credence gain such proximity to Pakistan’s top diplomats? Denials from officials did little to clear the air, especially since Junejo claimed she had been formally included by Prime Minister Sharif and had contributed to drafting his UNGA speech.
This episode highlighted concerns about communication and coordination within Pakistan’s diplomatic institutions, given that seating arrangements and delegation compositions are tightly regulated in international forums like the UNGA.
### Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s Interview: A Media Flashpoint
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was the only senior Pakistani official to give a direct interview to a Western media outlet that gained notable attention. His interview with Mehdi Hasan, aired on CNN and Al Jazeera, became a flashpoint for both Pakistani mainstream and social media.
The interview was tense and confrontational, with Hasan posing pointed questions. Asif struggled to defend the country’s hybrid governance model and appeared to contradict himself on issues like the validity of the upcoming 2024 elections and Imran Khan’s social media activity.
Following the broadcast, an intense debate erupted online around civil-military relations and the treatment of Imran Khan. CNN’s Becky Anderson fact-checked Asif’s claims, pointing out a lack of evidence to support several of his statements.
This interview exemplified typical journalistic scrutiny and political deflection. Hasan sought to expose contradictions in Asif’s narrative, while Asif’s responses underscored the entrenched challenges facing Pakistan’s democratic evolution.
### Diplomatic Optics at the Oval Office
The day’s diplomatic highlight was the meeting at the Oval Office, where Pakistan’s civil-military leaders met with President Trump, the Secretary of State, and other high-ranking US officials. Although the White House did not issue any official readout of the meeting, President Trump’s brief remarks before the meeting praised the Pakistani leaders unreservedly.
Despite some criticism on social media, the majority of mainstream Pakistani media framed the UNGA participation as a diplomatic victory, emphasizing Sharif’s strong speech and meetings with Trump and leaders of other Islamic countries. The overall tone was celebratory.
### Reflections on Pakistan’s UNGA 2025 Campaign
Pakistan’s UNGA 2025 campaign was bold but brittle. The delegation commanded attention but struggled to maintain coherence under scrutiny. The optics were emotionally resonant but strategically inconsistent.
Adding another layer to the event, social media amplified viral moments, hashtags, and influencer narratives, shaping perceptions far beyond the halls of the UN.
Pakistani leaders and audiences back home are gradually coming to terms with the realities of new media, where narratives are shaped beyond the traditional editorial controls exercised by mainstream outlets.
In the modern age of global diplomacy, optics are not just about visibility—they are also about credibility, coherence, and control.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1348316-pakistans-bold-yet-brittle-moment
