Latest news with #BhuttoZardari
Arab News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan seeks UK support on Kashmir, Indus Waters Treaty amid India tensions
ISLAMABAD: The head of an official delegation visiting world capitals to present Islamabad's position following a recent military standoff with New Delhi met senior British officials and Kashmiri diaspora leaders in London this week, urging the UK to play a more active role in defusing tensions with India and restoring the suspended Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan and India have launched parallel diplomatic offensives in world capitals weeks after their worst military confrontation in decades last month saw the two nuclear-armed nations exchange missile, drone and artillery strikes until the US and other allies brokered a ceasefire on May 10. The Pakistan delegation is currently in London after visiting the United States and will go onwards to Brussels. Officials of both countries are lobbying for international support over the disputed region of Kashmir, which both countries rule in part but claim in full. In London on Tuesday, Pakistan's former foreign minister, who is heading the Pakistani delegation, met with prominent UK-based Kashmiri leaders and senior British diplomats, warning of the dangers of rising hostilities and accusing India of violating long-standing international agreements. 'The Jammu & Kashmir dispute remains the unfinished agenda of the United Nations and the unhealed wound of Partition,' Bhutto Zardari said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. 'In all my interactions, Kashmir was central— its people's inalienable right to self-determination under UNSC resolutions must be upheld. He also accused India of 'aggression, violations of sovereignty, and the illegal suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty,' saying the move endangered over 240 million lives in Pakistan and called for its immediate restoration. Bhutto Zardari separately met with Christian Turner, former UK High Commissioner to Pakistan and now Britain's incoming Permanent Representative to the United Nations, as part of Islamabad's push to rally international diplomatic support. 'Welcomed the UK's emphasis on diplomacy and dialogue, and encouraged its continued, constructive role in supporting de-escalation and encouraging dialogue for resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, the unfinished agenda of Partition and British legacy,' the Pakistani leader wrote following a luncheon hosted by Pakistan's High Commission. The Pakistani outreach coincides with a parallel tour by a senior Indian delegation led by opposition MP and former UN under-secretary Shashi Tharoor, who is lobbying Western allies to support New Delhi's position that Kashmir is an internal matter and that Pakistan is stoking tensions for political ends. India also accuses Pakistan of backing separatist insurgents and the attacks they carry out, including one in April 22 which triggered the latest conflict. Islamabad denies the charges. Pakistan has long maintained that Kashmir is a disputed territory under UN resolutions, while India insists the region's status was settled after its full constitutional integration in August 2019, a move Pakistan continues to reject as illegal. The standoff has also drawn concern over shared water resources, particularly the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 World Bank-brokered agreement seen as a rare example of cooperation between the two neighbors. Recent Indian actions to suspend the treaty and threaten to halt water flow into Pakistan have added to Islamabad's grievances. As tensions grow, both nations are leveraging historic ties with Western powers in an effort to shape the diplomatic narrative. In London, Bhutto Zardari reiterated the need for 'restraint, immediate restoration of treaty obligations, and comprehensive dialogue to prevent conflict and secure lasting peace.' The visits come ahead of a high-level UN session on South Asia later this month, where both Indian and Pakistani envoys are expected to present competing narratives.
Business Recorder
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pak delegation interacts with Chatham House
LONDON: A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by former Foreign minister and Chairman Pakistan People Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, engaged with eminent members of the British think tank, academia, and policymaking community at the prestigious Chatham House, one of the UK's leading think tanks focused on foreign and security policy issues. The closed-door discussion was held under the 'Chatham House Rules,' which is used around the world to encourage inclusive and open dialogue in meetings. Bhutto Zardari and other delegation members conveyed Pakistan's perspective on the recent escalation in South Asia while expressing serious concern about India's unprovoked military aggression that resulted in civilian casualties and posed a significant threat to regional stability. They underscored that India's actions constituted a clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, international law, and the United Nations Charter. The Pakistan delegation said that Pakistan's armed forces, with the full support of the people of Pakistan, had given a befitting response to India, demonstrating Pakistan's resolve to defend its sovereignty, and thwarting India's ambitions to set any new so-called 'normal' in the region. Bhutto Zardari strongly denounced India's unilateral and illegal suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. He warned that the weaponisation of water undermines international norms and sets a perilous precedent. He urged the international community to take notice of this alarming development and hold India to account for its actions. The delegation noted that the pending resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the principal stumbling block to lasting peace and stability in the region. They urged the international community to support meaningful dialogue and ensure respect for international commitments and human rights. The other members of the delegation include Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Masood Malik; Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and former Minister for Information and Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman; Chairperson, National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar; former Minister for Commerce, Defence and Foreign Affairs, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan; MQM's Parliamentary Leader in the Senate and former Minister for Maritime Affairs, Senator Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, former Foreign secretaries, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani and Ambassador Tehmina Janjua. Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK Dr Mohammad Faisal was also present during the round table conference. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Bilawal Bhutto warns of escalating water disputes with India, calls for diplomatic engagement
Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, leading Pakistan's high-level diplomatic delegation, issued a stern warning regarding India's water policies, stating they could force future generations into conflict. Speaking at the Middle East Institute in Thursday, he emphasized that any future war might not allow time for international mediation, referencing former U.S. President Donald Trump's past interventions. Bhutto Zardari criticised India's actions concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, accusing New Delhi of infringing upon the water rights of Pakistan's 240 million citizens. He highlighted that such provocations are pushing the region toward a potential water crisis. Addressing the Kashmir issue, he noted that while India previously labeled it an internal matter, international perspectives have shifted, recognizing it as a global dispute. He pointed out that even within India, there's growing acknowledgment of Kashmir as a bilateral issue. During his visit, Bhutto Zardari and the Pakistani delegation met with several U.S. Congress members, including Democrats Tom Suozzi and Ilhan Omar, and Republican Jack Bergman. These discussions centered on recent Indo-Pak tensions, violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, and Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. Delegation members, including Sherry Rehman and Musadik Malik, also engaged with U.S. senators to highlight concerns over India's water policies. Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peace, expressing readiness for dialogue with India. However, he cautioned that continued refusal from India to engage in discussions would only exacerbate existing issues. He also accused India of interfering in Balochistan and supporting banned groups like the BLA and TTP. In a pointed remark, he stated, 'This time, we downed six of their aircraft; next time, they might not have an air force left.' He urged India's allies to counsel New Delhi towards peaceful resolutions, emphasizing that without addressing the Kashmir conflict, regional peace remains unattainable.
Economic Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Copy-paste diplomacy? Pakistan to send its "peace" delegation on global stage after India's all-party outreach on terrorism
ANI Troubled by India's diplomatic outreach, Pakistan to send its "peace" delegation on global stage In the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, which has drawn international attention to Islamabad's support for terrorism, Pakistan is scrambling to salvage its global image. Attempting to mirror New Delhi's recent diplomatic moves, Pakistan has now announced plans to send a delegation abroad to present its case for 'peace,' news agency ANI reported. The move comes after India constituted seven multi-party delegations to brief global leaders on its counter-terror operation and the country's united stance against cross-border terrorism. According to ANI, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Saturday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had asked him to lead a peace delegation on behalf of Pakistan. 'I was contacted earlier today by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who requested that I lead a delegation to present Pakistan's case for peace on the international stage. I am honoured to accept this responsibility and remain committed to serving Pakistan in these challenging times,' Bhutto Zardari said in a Facebook post. ANI noted that Pakistan's move is being widely seen as a desperate attempt to repair its tarnished international reputation, especially in light of accusations linking it to decades of sponsoring terrorism in the region. Bhutto Zardari's delegation is likely to face diplomatic headwinds, given the credibility challenges Pakistan faces, particularly after its retaliatory actions following India's Operation Sindoor—India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Earlier on Saturday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that seven Indian all-party delegations will travel to key global capitals, including members of the United Nations Security Council. These delegations aim to present a united front against terrorism and share details of Operation delegations will be led by Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), and Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena).'In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united. Seven All-Party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying our shared message of zero tolerance to terrorism. A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences,' Rijiju said in a post on to ANI, each delegation comprises Members of Parliament across party lines, senior politicians, and diplomats, showcasing India's political consensus on combating Sindoor, launched on May 7, reportedly targeted infrastructure linked to terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen, resulting in the elimination of over 100 terrorists, according to ANI. In response, Pakistan reportedly launched retaliatory shelling and attempted drone strikes, to which India responded with targeted attacks on Pakistani military infrastructure.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pakistan to send diplomatic delegation abroad to counter India's global outreach
Hours after India decided to send its delegations to key partner countries to put across its resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that he would send a diplomatic team to important world capitals to present his country's stance. The decision was made by Mr. Sharif on Saturday (May 17, 2025) after a telephone conversation with former Foreign Minister and head of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Pakistan's decision to send its delegation came hours after India announced that it would send seven all-party delegations to key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council, later this month, to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Mr. Shehbaz 'decided to send a high-level diplomatic delegation to important world capitals to expose Indian propaganda', the state-run Radio Pakistan reported. He has entrusted the leadership of the delegation to Mr. Bhutto Zardari. 'I was contacted earlier today by Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif], who requested that I lead a delegation to present Pakistan's case for peace on the international stage. I am honoured to accept this responsibility and remain committed to serving Pakistan in these challenging times,' Mr. Bhutto Zardari posted on social media platform X on Saturday (May 17, 2025). Apart from Mr. Bhutto Zardari, the delegation will include Energy Minister Musadik Malik, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Khurram Dastgir Khan, Senator Sherry Rehman, former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Faisal Subzwari, and former Foreign Secretaries Tehmina Janjua and Jalil Abbas Jilani. The delegation will also 'underscore Pakistan's sincere efforts for peace and stability in the region,' according to the PMO. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the delegation would soon visit the United States, the U.K., Brussels, France, and Russia to highlight Pakistan's stance on the recent conflict. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
