ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has deployed two multi-party delegations to key international capitals as part of a diplomatic campaign addressing recent military escalations with India. The delegations began their high-level engagements on Monday, with the team led by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari holding talks with China and Russia’s UN ambassadors in New York.
Under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the delegations are visiting New York, Washington, London, Brussels, and Moscow to present Pakistan’s position on the conflict. Bilawal’s nine-member delegation includes parliamentarians and former diplomats, while another delegation led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi is in Moscow.
During his two-day visit to New York, Bilawal met China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, and Russia’s Permanent Representative, Vassily Nebenzia. He thanked China for its support amid the conflict and briefed both ambassadors on Pakistan’s responsible conduct following the April 22 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Bilawal emphasized that India rejected Pakistan’s offer for a transparent investigation and said resolving the Kashmir dispute is essential for lasting peace in South Asia.
The Pakistani delegation urged China to assist in peace efforts and expressed serious concern over India’s targeting of Pakistani citizens during the conflict. Both sides opposed unilateral actions and aggression, stressing respect for the UN Charter and international law. The delegation also condemned India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it a dangerous precedent threatening regional security.
The delegation included prominent figures such as Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, and Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik. Malik highlighted the humanitarian risks of suspending the IWT while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace and regional stability.
Bilawal, in interviews, underscored Pakistan’s pursuit of peace through dignity, strength, and diplomacy. He condemned India’s post-Pahalgam actions as violations of international law and reiterated that no lasting solution is possible without resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute according to UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiris.
The delegations’ engagements in Washington include meetings with lawmakers, think tanks, and media, with a scheduled meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Foreign Office stated the delegations will highlight Pakistan’s restrained response to Indian aggression and urge the international community to prioritize dialogue over conflict.
Responding to recent hostile statements by Indian leaders, a Foreign Office spokesperson rejected India’s claims that Pakistan is a source of regional instability. The spokesperson reaffirmed Pakistan’s stance that the Kashmir dispute remains the core issue and called on the international community to support a just resolution. They stressed that India’s aggressive behavior and support for terrorism within Pakistan are well documented and cannot be concealed by hollow narratives.
The spokesperson warned that India’s attempts to sidestep the Kashmir issue would prolong mistrust and potential conflict. Pakistan remains committed to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, asserting that durable peace in South Asia requires maturity, restraint, and addressing root causes rather than pursuing narrow political gains at the expense of regional harmony.
(WITH INPUTS FROM KHALID MAHMOOD)
