- PPP chairman says remained committed to serving the country in ‘these challenging times’
- New Delhi also announces ‘all-party’ delegations would visit key partner countries, including members of UNSC
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday tasked PPP Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari with present Pakistan’s “case for peace” on global diplomatic front in the aftermath of the recent military escalation with India.
Sharing the development, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari posted on X, “that he was contacted earlier today by the prime minister who requested that the former top diplomat “lead a delegation to present Pakistan’s case for peace on the international stage”.
The PPP chairman said he was honoured to accept the responsibility and remained committed to serving the country in “these challenging times”.
The India resorted to unprovoked military confrontation with Pakistan after accusing it of involvement in the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, a town in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. On the night of May 6-7, New Delhi launched a series of airstrikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Both sides then exchanged missiles, which stretched over the week, leading Islamabad’s “decisive and resolute” response by downing five Indian jets.
It drew intervention by the United States President Trump, finally leading to a ceasefire between the nuclear warring rivals.
On May 10, when tensions between the two countries peaked, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between India and Pakistan. According to the government, 40 civilians — including seven women and 15 children and 13 armed forces personnel — lost their lives in the Indian aggression, and 121 others sustained injuries.
Though a ceasefire has been brokered between the two nuclear rivals, India has since continued its aggressive posturing even as Pakistan has warned against any further military aggression and offered talks.
The military flare-up saw China expressing solid diplomatic support to Pakistan, but there wasn’t a country other than Israel to stand with India without hyphenating it with Pakistan.
Reports said a day ago that finding itself friendless in the conflict, India has started taking revenge on countries who helped Islamabad in the recent military flare-up.
The PPP chairman said the committee would also “inform the international community about Indian aggression and its false propaganda”.
The government has yet to share more details on who else would be included in the delegation and which specific countries would be engaged.
India announces ‘all-party’ delegations to visit key partner countries
In a similar development, the Indian government announced that seven all-party delegations would visit key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council, later this month to present the country’s stance on terrorism and “project India’s national consensus”.
“Members of parliament from different parties, prominent political personalities and distinguished diplomats will be part of each delegation,” said a press release from India’s Press Information Bureau.
It said the following Indian lawmakers would lead the seven delegations: Indian National Congress’ Shashi Tharoor; Bharatiya Janata Party’s Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda; Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam’s Kanimozhi Karunanidhi; Janata Dal-United’s Sanjay Kumar Jha; Nationalist Congress Party’s Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Eknath Shinde.
Pakistan has said Britain and other countries, in addition to the United States, played a major role in de-escalating the fighting. Diplomats and analysts say the ceasefire remains fragile.
US President Donald Trump said after the ceasefire was struck that talks should take place in a third-country venue but no dates or location for the talks have been announced.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated dialogue offer to India to settle all outstanding issues, including Kashmir and water distribution.
PM Shehbaz while addressing a ceremony marking Youm-e-Tashakur (Thanksgiving Day) at Pakistan Monument, also reminded New Delhi that the two neighbours had fought three wars but gained nothing except miseries for the people.
“After settling disputes like Kashmir and water distribution, we can talk on trade and counter-terrorism as Pakistan is the worst affected country by terrorism which lost 90,000 lives and over $150 billion economic losses.”
Addressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz had said, “We have won the war but we want peace. We have taught our enemy a lesson but we condemn aggression. We want this part of the world to be as prosperous and progressive as others through hard work, undying efforts and living like peaceful neighbours.”
