The 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 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-opportunities with dignitaries and the customary addresses, especially when the forum 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 war with India and the lavish praise the country received from US President Donald Trump. The delegation conveyed a message of moral clarity, strategic ambiguity, and assertive symbolism.
### Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s Speech: Emotionally Charged but Strategically Unclear
The Prime Minister’s speech at the UNGA was emotionally charged and rhetorically bold. He condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Kashmir, and praised Donald Trump for brokering peace with India. These optics were designed to position Pakistan as a moral voice for the Muslim world.
However, the praise for Trump felt somewhat out of place and raised questions about the delegation’s strategic coherence. Sharif’s speech appeared more tailored to domestic audiences rather than reflecting a clear, consistent foreign policy agenda. If Pakistan is eyeing a new position in the rapidly changing global diplomatic chessboard, it was not clear from this address.
### Media Coverage and Diplomatic Impact
Sharif’s address and his subsequent meeting with US President Donald Trump received moderate coverage in American media. Most reporting came from international and diaspora-focused outlets rather than mainstream US networks. Coverage primarily centered on the symbolism of the meeting and its context within broader diplomatic efforts to address the Gaza crisis.
Notably, major US media outlets such as CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post did not provide in-depth commentary or analysis, suggesting the event was not a top-tier diplomatic priority in American media narratives.
### Protocol Breaches and Diplomatic Concerns
Controversy arose during the assembly when some members of the Pakistani contingent raised slogans from the visitors’ gallery. This violation of UN norms angered other delegates and was deemed in poor taste. UN security officials have since launched an investigation into how these individuals gained access and why slogans tied to Pakistan’s internal politics were voiced in such a formal diplomatic setting.
The UNGA maintains strict protocols, particularly concerning access to the visitors’ gallery, which is only accessible through passes issued by member states’ diplomatic missions.
### The Dr. Shama Junejo Controversy
Another point of contention was the presence of Dr. Shama Junejo, a UK-based columnist and social media activist, who attended the 80th UNGA session 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 fundamental question: how did an individual not officially listed in the delegation’s letter of credence gain such proximity to Pakistan’s top diplomatic representatives?
Despite denials, Junejo claimed she had been formally included by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and had contributed to drafting his UNGA speech. The episode exposed communication gaps within Pakistan’s diplomatic institutions. In international forums like the UNGA, seating arrangements and delegation composition are tightly regulated, making this incident particularly noteworthy.
### 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 Western media widely circulated during the assembly. Both CNN and Al Jazeera highlighted his tense and confrontational interview with Mehdi Hasan.
During the interview, Asif struggled to defend the concept of hybrid governance and appeared to contradict himself on key issues such as the validity of the 2024 elections and Imran Khan’s social media activities. The interview ignited intense debate on social media, especially surrounding civil-military relations and Khan’s treatment.
CNN’s Becky Anderson fact-checked Asif’s claims, pointing out the lack of supporting evidence. The interview typified journalistic scrutiny and political deflection, with Hasan spotlighting contradictions in Asif’s narrative, while Asif’s responses reflected the entrenched challenges facing Pakistan’s democratic evolution.
### The Oval Office Meeting: Diplomatic Optics
The assembly’s most visually impactful moment 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 officials. Although the White House did not issue an official readout of the meeting, President Trump openly praised the Pakistani leaders before the gathering.
Despite some social media criticism, the majority of mainstream Pakistani media framed the UNGA presence as a diplomatic victory, emphasizing Sharif’s strong speech and meetings with Trump and leaders of other Islamic countries. The overall tone was celebratory.
### Conclusion: A Bold but Brittle Campaign
Pakistan’s UNGA 2025 campaign was bold but brittle. The delegation captured attention but struggled to maintain coherence under scrutiny. The optics were emotionally resonant but strategically inconsistent.
Social media added another dimension, with viral moments, hashtags, and influencer narratives shaping perceptions far beyond the UN floor. Pakistani leaders and their domestic audiences are gradually coming to terms with the realities of new media, where narratives are often shaped beyond traditional editorial controls exercised by mainstream outlets.
In today’s global diplomatic environment, optics are not just about visibility—they are also about credibility, coherence, and control. How Pakistan navigates this evolving landscape remains a critical question as it seeks to assert its position on the world stage.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1348316-pakistans-bold-yet-brittle-moment
