ISLAMABAD/ NEW YORK: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, led a delegation to the United Nations to expose baseless Indian propaganda and present Pakistan’s position on pressing regional issues.
He is at the United Nations to deliver a firm message advocating “peace with dignity, dialogue with purpose, and partnerships built on justice”. The acting permanent representative of the US to the United Nations, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, met the delegation. Bilawal expressed gratitude to the US administration, in particular President Trump, for facilitating the ceasefire between Pakistan and India. He briefed Ambassador Shea on the developments following the Pahalgam attack of 22 April 2025, expressing deep concern over India’s immediate attribution of blame to Pakistan without any credible investigation or verifiable evidence.
He emphasized that such premature and baseless allegations exacerbate tensions and undermine prospects for constructive dialogue and peace. He underscored that Pakistan had been at the forefront in the fight against terrorism and has made the biggest sacrifices in this fight.
Bilawal Bhutto urged the US to play its role in ensuring comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan to address all outstanding issues including the holding in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty, he said amounted to weaponization of water.
It is important to mention that a nine-member high-level parliamentary delegation consisting of Minister, former Ministers, and members of Parliament is in the US as part of Pakistan’s global diplomatic outreach.
During a meeting with China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, Bilawal expressed appreciation for China’s support, shared Pakistan’s post-conflict perspective, and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to regional stability and the UN Charter. The two sides reaffirmed their opposition to unilateral aggression and called for adherence to international law.
Bilawal also criticised India’s refusal to allow an impartial investigation into the recent Pahalgam incident, calling it a missed opportunity for de-escalation.
In a video message posted on his official social media, Bilawal condemned India’s recent “unprovoked aggression,” citing civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and a ceasefire that followed the escalation. He emphasised that peace in South Asia is impossible without resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.
Bilawal warned that India’s weaponisation of water through violations of the Indus Waters Treaty was a threat not only to Pakistan’s sovereignty but to regional and global stability. He rejected all forms of terrorism but condemned its use as a political tool against Pakistan.
Bilawal-led delegation also met representatives from 10 non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) — including Denmark, Greece, Panama, Somalia, Algeria, Guyana, Japan, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia — to counter Indian propaganda and present Pakistan’s stance on regional peace and security.
Bilawal firmly rejected Indian allegations as baseless and politically motivated, stating that accusations without credible evidence or investigation are unacceptable. He condemned India’s targeting of civilians and its unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that such actions pose grave threats to regional peace and violate international agreements.
The permanent representative of Russian Federation, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, also called on the high-level parliamentary delegation.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari briefed the Russian PR on the situation following the Pahalgam attack, rejecting India’s baseless accusations against Pakistan without any evidence, and highlighting its premature and unilateral actions, including the holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty. He noted that Pakistan’s measured and proportionate response — guided by restraint and international law — was aimed at preserving regional peace and avoiding a wider conflict.
Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik apprised regarding humanitarian implications of holding in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty and stressed that there was no clause in the treaty to suspend it. Highlighting Pakistan’s mature and restrained approach, the delegation reiterated the country’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and regional stability.
Delegation members, including Senators Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, and Dr Musadik Malik, briefed UNSC representatives on the potential humanitarian and environmental consequences of India’s actions, including water scarcity and food insecurity.
Bilawal emphasised Pakistan’s measured and responsible response, urging the international community to act proactively to prevent escalation and promote dialogue. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace in line with the UN Charter.
According to the PPP, UNSC representatives appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and its call for peace and conflict resolution in South Asia.
The Pakistani delegation will also engage with representatives from all 15 UN Security Council member states, the UN Secretary-General, and ambassadors from OIC and Non-Aligned Movement countries. The team will also address the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) and Pakistani media.
However, observers noted a lack of scheduled meetings with major Western media, human rights organisations, or US administration officials. Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of engaging mostly with friendly nations, rather than countering Indian narratives in Western public and policy forums.
The diplomatic outreach follows a sharp rise in tensions between India and Pakistan after a terrorist attack in IIOJK that killed 26 Indian tourists. India blamed Pakistan without evidence, prompting Islamabad to mount an international diplomatic response.
Meanwhile, PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman, a key member of Pakistan’s diplomatic delegation to the UN, Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to exposing India’s fabricated propaganda and presenting the country’s principled stance on regional peace, international law, and responsible diplomacy.
“Under the leadership of Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, our delegation has launched a full-spectrum diplomatic outreach in New York,” she said. “We are here not for photo-ops, but for strategic engagement with the international community at the heart of the UN system.”
In a statement, Sherry Rehman emphasised that Pakistan is actively presenting its diplomatic agenda, focused on peace, sustainable development, and regional stability. “Pakistan’s image as a responsible and stable middle power is being clearly articulated. We are highlighting our unwavering respect for international law and our constructive role in South Asia’s peace and security,” she said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned recent antagonistic remarks made by Indian leadership, including those delivered in Bihar, describing them as reflective of a deeply “troubling mindset” that prioritises hostility over peace.
“Indian leadership’s recent remarks including those made in Bihar reflect a deeply troubling mindset that prioritises hostility over peace,” said Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan while responding to the queries of media persons.
He said any attempt to portray Pakistan as the source of regional instability is divorced from reality. He said the international community is well aware of India’s record of aggressive behaviour, including documented support for terrorist activities within Pakistan. These facts cannot be obscured by hollow narratives or diversionary tactics, he added.
Addressing a rally in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday threatened Pakistan that Operation Sindoor was “just an arrow” in India’s “quiver” and underlined that the war on terror is neither over nor has it come to a halt.
The spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, last week blamed Pakistan for perpetrating terrorism inside India. In response to a question during the weekly press briefing, the Indian spox reiterated PM Modi’s stance that terrorism and dialogue cannot go hand in hand.
Jaiswal also dismissed holding negotiations on resolving the Kashmir conflict between the neighbouring countries, saying: “I would like to underline that any bilateral discussion on Jammu and Kashmir will only be on the vacation” of the disputed territory by Pakistan.
On the other hand, the Pakistani spokesperson said that the Kashmir dispute remains the core issue threatening peace and stability in the region. He said Pakistan would continue to stand firm in advocating for a just and lasting resolution to the Kashmir conflict in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
“To sidestep this fundamental issue is to condemn the region to continued mistrust and potential confrontation,” he added.
Shafqat said the developments of recent weeks have once again underscored the utter futility of jingoism and coercion. India cannot and will not achieve its objectives through threats, misrepresentation or force, he added.
The FO spokesperson said Pakistan remains committed to peace and constructive engagement, but it is equally resolved to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any aggression.
He said durable peace in South Asia demands maturity, restraint, and a willingness to address the root causes of conflict, not the pursuit of narrow political gains at the expense of regional harmony.