After India's Move, Pakistan Now Planning To Send Its MP Delegation Abroad For Global Outreach

Just hours after the Indian government announced it would dispatch seven all-party delegations abroad to spotlight its campaign against cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan, Islamabad revealed its own plans to send a high-level team led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to major international capitals.

The Indian delegations, comprising parliamentarians, political figures, and ex-diplomats - including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, and AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi - are scheduled to travel to major capitals in North America, Europe, and West Asia.

Photo Credit: PTI

Pakistan's parallel initiative became evident on Saturday evening when Bhutto-Zardari posted on social media that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had asked him to head the delegation, reported Hindustan Times.

"I was contacted earlier today by Prime Minister @CMShehbaz, who requested that I lead a delegation to present Pakistan's case for peace on the international stage. I am honoured to accept this responsibility and remain committed to serving Pakistan in these challenging times," said Bhutto-Zardari, whose Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is a key coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

There has been no official confirmation from the Pakistani government thus far.

Reports in Pakistani media suggest that other likely members of the delegation include former deputy foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, ex-defence minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, and former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani. It is also reported that former ambassador to the US, Tariq Fatemi, might be dispatched to Russia.

According to these reports, the Bhutto-Zardari-led delegation will visit European countries to apprise them of Pakistan's recent tensions with India.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the diplomatic campaign, stating that Pakistan will engage with key countries including the US, UK, Belgium, France, and Russia to convey its stance on the recent hostilities.

This diplomatic push follows Prime Minister Sharif's offer to engage in dialogue with India on a broad range of issues, including Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, and terrorism.

However, India's external affairs minister S. Jaishankar has reiterated that New Delhi is open to talks with Islamabad solely on terrorism-related matters. He added that discussions on the Indus Waters Treaty would remain suspended until cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan is "irrevocably stopped".

Jaishankar also stressed that the only Kashmir-related issue India is prepared to address is the return of territories "illegally occupied by Pakistan".

On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, executing a series of precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure at nine locations within Pakistan-administered territory. This led to four days of heavy armed exchanges, involving drones, missiles, and long-range weaponry, until both sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities on May 10.