Bilawal Suggests ISI-RAW Cooperation Could Curb Terrorism

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged India and Pakistan to work together against terrorism. Speaking at a media briefing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, he said, “If ISI and RAW sat together, terrorism would reduce on both sides.” He stressed that finger-pointing and accusations between the two countries only escalate tensions.

The PPP chairman noted that Pakistan suffers more terrorist attacks than India. “More productive than blame would be collaboration,” he said. He insisted that Pakistan has acted responsibly in the war against terror and has learned tough lessons through direct confrontation with terrorists.

Condemnation of Indian Strikes

Bilawal condemned India’s airstrikes inside Pakistan on May 7. He called them a clear violation of the United Nations Charter and international law. He claimed the attacks targeted civilian areas, including worship sites, dams, and energy facilities. Women and children were among the casualties.

“These strikes were not only illegal but reckless,” he said. “Despite this, Pakistan still prefers dialogue over aggression.” He emphasized that terrorists should not determine the course of two nuclear-armed nations.

Bilawal said Pakistan was open to discussing all issues. “Let’s talk about terrorism, Kashmir, and water,” he said. “We’re willing to put all cards on the table for the sake of peace.”

India’s Refusal to Engage

Bilawal accused India of avoiding dialogue and accountability. He said only one country was rejecting investigations and running from international scrutiny. “If we accept that international law doesn’t apply to India, then we are endorsing lawlessness,” he warned.

He called on all parties to respect the UN Charter, especially regarding Kashmir and the Indus Water Treaty. “We want peace, but peace comes from justice,” he added.

Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam attack in IIOJK, Bilawal said India used it as a pretext to justify aggression. He noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had publicly offered to cooperate with any neutral investigation into the incident, but India refused.

Strikes, Drones, and Rising Tensions

Bilawal revealed that Israeli drones were used during the May 7 Indian strikes. He drew parallels between India’s post-2019 Kashmir policy and Israel’s settlement practices in the West Bank. “India is mimicking the wrong models,” he said.

He criticized India’s belief that shouting “terrorism” gave it a free pass to attack any Muslim country. “This arrogance must stop,” he stated. He warned that such unilateral aggression could lead to uncontrollable conflict between nuclear neighbors.

He confirmed Pakistan responded to the Indian strikes by shooting down six Indian aircraft. “We had to act in self-defence,” he said. But he warned against tit-for-tat escalation. “If every terrorist attack in India means war with Pakistan, and vice versa, we are heading toward disaster,” he said.

Bilawal ended by expressing hope that both countries would agree on a complaint and investigation mechanism. He said such a system would help resolve disputes peacefully and prevent manipulation by non-state actors. He also reminded the world that the core issue of terrorism in IIOJK stems from the unresolved Kashmir conflict — still pending before the UN Security Council.