US–Iran talks must deliver peace as world has no ‘Plan B,’ warns Bilawal

• PPP chairman tells Sky News plan A need to be achieving peace, warning there is no ‘Plan B’ if talks fail’

• Stresses global community must fully back diplomatic path to peace, as ‘a war of this nature, a war of this scale, is not an option’

• Warns conflict’s toll includes human losses and global economic shock, highlighting deep trust deficit between Tehran and Washington

 ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said the world does not have a “plan B” if the US–Iran talks fail to produce the desired results, stressing that “negotiations must lead to a peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict.”

Bilawal expressed these views in an interview with Sky News, where he was asked whether, in the absence of a formal treaty following the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, there existed any “plan B” to prevent a return to full-scale hostilities.

I think that the international community does not have a Plan B. Our Plan A needs to be achieving a peaceful resolution to this conflict and a more permanent peace. I think the way this conflict has played out has proven that war of this nature, war of this scale is not an option… pic.twitter.com/6fJQBC4wWT

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) April 10, 2026

In response, he said: “I think the international community doesn’t have a plan B. Our plan A needs to be achieving a peaceful resolution to this conflict and a more permanent peace. A war of this nature, a war of this scale, is not an option.”

He further said it was the responsibility of all stakeholders and countries to push the parties towards peace to avoid being drawn into a wider regional escalation.

His remarks came a day before Islamabad hosts peace talks between US and Iranian delegations, following Pakistan’s role in brokering a temporary ceasefire between the two sides.

During the interview, Bilawal said global attention was focused on the visiting delegations arriving in Islamabad.

“Pakistan, London, New York and many countries in the Middle East have been affected by this war,” he said, adding that the toll of the conflict must be measured not only in human lives but also in its economic cost to populations across the world.

He expressed hope that the current ceasefire space would be built upon to achieve a more durable and permanent peace in the interest of the international community.

On Pakistan’s diplomatic role, he said the country’s primary responsibility was to host both sides for direct negotiations in Islamabad.

“The biggest achievement so far is that we have reached this point,” he said, adding that challenges remain, particularly the “wide trust deficit” between the two sides.

He, however, expressed confidence that diplomatic engagement would produce confidence-building measures to expand space for dialogue and advance the peace process.

Responding to a question about reported discussions regarding a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Pakistan’s leadership and criticism over prioritising international image, Bilawal said it was the first time he had heard such talk.

He said Iran and Afghanistan are Pakistan’s neighbours, adding that Pakistan had already endured decades of regional conflict and could not afford further escalation in the region.

“The people of Pakistan can’t afford it. I would argue people across the world can’t afford it,” he said, stressing that Pakistan’s motivation was to see peace achieved on all sides.

He further noted that the situation also carried significant economic risks, warning that global instability could trigger major economic shocks, and reiterated that Pakistan’s priority was peace rather than international recognition.

In a separate interview with BBC, Bilawal was asked about US President Donald Trump’s past remarks accusing Pakistan of “lying and deceit” during his first term and the subsequent shift in relations.

Speaking from our own experience as Pakistan and India went to war a year ago and we also had a ceasefire, it did take a little bit to get every single aspect of that ceasefire implemented on the ground. I note that many aspects laid out as the outline of this ceasefire have been… pic.twitter.com/OZWFcpitvv

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) April 10, 2026

He said he would view those remarks as “past statements,” adding that ground realities had changed significantly and Pakistan had improved its international perception, particularly in Washington.

Bilawal said Pakistan seeks to build on these gains for the benefit of regional and global peace, particularly in facilitating understanding between Iran and the United States.

He added that Pakistan maintains strong relations with China as well as long-standing ties with the United States, and has historically acted as a bridge between major powers.

He recalled Pakistan’s role in facilitating US–China diplomatic engagement during the Nixon era and noted that during current Iran–US discussions, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister visited China, where both sides endorsed a five-point framework supporting the ceasefire.