During his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in New York, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the efforts made by Pakistan to reduce the escalation in the region and push towards diplomatic solutions. Salam appreciated the role that Pakistan played in this field during the past months, noting that any reduction in escalation in the region would reflect positively on Lebanon. Salam stressed that Lebanon does not want to be an arena for regional conflicts or for the exchange of messages, and that no one negotiates in the name of Lebanon except the Lebanese state. He pointed out the importance of continuing to press for Israel's complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory, stopping its attacks, and supporting the path of extending the authority of the Lebanese state over its entire territory by its own forces. For his part, the Pakistani Prime Minister stressed that Lebanon and reducing the escalation in it constitute a priority for Pakistan, and that his country was keen during its contacts and regional endeavors that Lebanon be included in any path to reduce the escalation. He also affirmed Pakistan's support for Lebanon, its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and for the efforts of the Lebanese government to extend state authority over its entire territory, in implementation of the constitution.