LONDON – A high-level Pakistani diplomatic delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari arrived in the United Kingdom on Saturday, June 8, after a series of successful meetings in Washington and New York. The nine-member team engaged in over 50 meetings with US senators, members of Congress, and UN representatives during their five-day visit.
The delegation included senior politicians and diplomats: Hina Rabbani Khar, Senator Sherry Rehman, Dr Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Tehmina Janjua, Bushra Anjum Butt, and Syed Faisal Subzwari.
They presented Pakistan’s perspective on peace in South Asia, raised concerns about India’s aggression, and clarified Pakistan’s position regarding the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 civilians dead.
India’s Aggression Highlighted as Delegation Calls for Peace
The Pakistani officials told US lawmakers that India wrongly blamed Pakistan for the IIOJK incident and launched unprovoked attacks that triggered a brief military engagement. Senator Sherry Rehman said US lawmakers listened closely and showed understanding.
“Everyone agreed that weaponising water is dangerous,” she told Geo News. She also said the delegation focused on its own narrative, not countering India. “Our story is our own,” she added.
Rehman emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to peace. “We are not chasing war, but we will defend ourselves if provoked,” she said.
Delegation member Syed Faisal Subzwari said they began their tour at the United Nations. “We came to present a peace message. Even though we showed military strength, our aim is dialogue,” he said. He added that the world must recognize how dangerous it is for two nuclear states to be in conflict.
Indus Waters Treaty, Kashmir Issue Take Center Stage
Khurram Dastgir Khan said the delegation stressed that water is a matter of life and death for Pakistan. “India does not want an inquiry or talks. That’s why intervention is essential,” he told media.
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Former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said the team met key UN Security Council members, including the UN secretary-general and president of the General Assembly. “India committed aggression; Pakistan responded as a peace-loving nation,” he said. He added that the international community has begun rejecting India’s long-standing propaganda.
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt warned about the possible collapse of the Indus Waters Treaty. “If it is violated today, no future agreement will stand,” she said. She stressed the need for US leadership to prevent another war in the region.
Bilawal Blasts India’s ‘Security Provider’ Myth
Speaking at a luncheon in Washington hosted by Ambassador Rizwan Saeed, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said India’s military aggression had exposed its claims of being a “net security provider.”
“They started a war based on a lie and lost it,” he said. “India has shown it lowers the threshold for war and instability.”
Bilawal warned that US military and financial support to India, given under the impression of regional peacekeeping, is now questionable. “India’s actions proved it is a source of insecurity, not stability,” he said.
He concluded by saying that only peace and dialogue between Pakistan and India could ensure lasting security in South Asia.
