Trump meets 'select' Muslim leaders, including PM Shehbaz, on UNGA sidelines

US President Donald Trump held a multilateral meeting with the leaders of several majority-Muslim countries, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session.

The Muslim countries included Turkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Discussions primarily revolve around the situation in Gaza.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Jordan's King Abdullah, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, holding informal discussions with them. 

The Trump meeting with leaders of the Islamic countries lasted for about 50 minutes. Calling it an honour to meet the heads of Islamic countries, Trump praised their collective efforts, saying, “You all have done an excellent job, which is commendable.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the talks as extremely productive. None of the other Muslim leaders spoke to the media after the meeting.

He also outlined US plans for an Israeli withdrawal and post-war governance in Gaza without Hamas involvement, according to US media.

Washington is seeking Arab and Muslim nations’ agreement to send troops to Gaza to enable Israel’s withdrawal and to fund transition and rebuilding programmes, Axios reported.

Israel faces global condemnation over its military conduct in Gaza, where local health authorities say more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed.

In recent weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has begun a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City, with no ceasefire in sight.