Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in New York onboard the special aircraft of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman with "mission Kashmir" in focus.
Imran Khan, who was in Riyadh to meet the Saudi authorities before leaving for the US, was stopped by the Saudi Crown Prince from using a commercial flight to travel.
"You are our special guest and you would be going to the US on my special aircraft," Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman told the Pakistan Premier.
Imran Khan was received by Pakistan's Permanent representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed Khan, and other officials in New York.
According to Lodhi, Imran Khan on arrival has launched his "mission Kashmir for Pakistan" to try and draw the world's attention towards Kashmir.
This is Imran Khan's first General Assembly visit and "he will be the voice of the Kashmiri people at the UN," Lodhi said.
Imran Khan is staying at New York's Roosevelt Hotel, which is partially owned by the PIA.
This's where most Pakistani leaders stayed till September 2008, when then President Asif Ali Zardari and then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif abandoned it for grander hotels like Waldorf Astoria, which cost at least 20 times more than the Roosevelt, Dawn reported.
Imran Khan arrived in New York during the weekend, which gives him the time to consult Pakistani diplomats and prominent members of the Pakistani-American community before meeting world leaders.
On Monday, his first informal engagement is breakfast with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
As always, the Pakistani Prime Minister's first official engagement at the UN is with the Chinese representative, and on Monday, Imran Khan will meet Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan.
At around 1 a.m. (Pakistan time) on Monday, Imran Khan meets US President Donald Trump, which could be the first of the two meetings the two are expected to have during the UN session. This would also be President Trump's second meeting with Imran Khan in less than 24 hours.
President Trump is scheduled to address a joint rally with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Houston, Texas, on September 22, hours before he meets the Pakistani Prime Minister. President Trump and PM Modi are expected to have a separate meeting before or after the rally, focusing on India-Pakistan relations.
Most world leaders will be in New York on Monday, to participate in the general debate, which begins on Tuesday.
Both Pakistani and Indian Prime Ministers are scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on September 27. PM Modi will speak first, on Friday morning, while Prime Minister Khan will speak later in the afternoon.
Prime Minister Khan has already announced that he will highlight the Kashmir issue in his address.
President Trump's recent comments on the Kashmir dispute have triggered speculations about an indirect dialogue between the two South Asian neighbours during the UNGA, with Washington playing the role of a facilitator, Dawn said.
Trump's expected meetings with both Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers, before and during the UNGA, have enhanced the possibility that he may use this occasion to discuss the situation in Kashmir.
On Thursday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he would raise the Kashmir issue during his discussions with various leaders attending the 74th UNGA.
Imran Khan will also co-host a meeting at the UN with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Countering Hate Speech.
A trilateral summit is also planned with Malaysia and Turkey.
He will address the UNGA on three more occasions at the Climate Change Summit, Summit on Universal Health Care and Financing for Development.
Outside the UN, Imran Khan will address the Asia Society and the Council on Foreign Relations, New York.
LS poll: Tripura Minister to reward polling stations recording highest vote percentage
Tripura Minister and senior BJP leader Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday announced Rs 2 lakh reward for the polling stations in five Assembly constituencies which will record the highest percentage of votes in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
BJP winning 35 seats in Bengal will guarantee freedom from illegal infiltration: Amit Shah
If the BJP winning 18 seats in West Bengal during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls can ensure the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, bagging 35 seats this time will surely guarantee freedom from illegal infiltration,
CM Kejriwal, K Kavitha’s judicial custody extended in money laundering case till May 7
A Delhi court on Tuesday extended till May 7 the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BRS leader, K Kavitha in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam case.
Polling to West Tripura PC: Returning Officer claims of free and fair election, says issues inquired and addressed
In response to various issues raised in the newspapers regarding election in 1-West Tripura Parliamentary constituency held on April 19 last, the Returning Officer assured that all the issues have been inquired and adequately addressed.
Misleading advertisements case: Issued public apologies across 67 newspapers, Patanjali tells SC
Patanjali Ayurved on Tuesday apprised the Supreme Court that it has issued public apologies for publishing misleading advertisements.
It is PM Modi's guarantee that all passengers will get confirmed tickets in next 5 years: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday that in the next five years, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee that almost any passenger who wants to travel can easily get a confirmed ticket.
PM Modi steps up attack on Congress, says ‘it wanted to bring quota on basis of religion’
Addressing a mega public rally in Rajasthan’s Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, PM Modi doubled down on his attack amid a series of accusations by the Congress.
India's 1st bullet train set to run in 2026: Railways Minister
The Bullet Train is a very complex project. The work on it started in 2017 and it took almost two-and-a-half years to complete the design.