In a powerful press conference at the United Nations Headquarters, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari sounded the alarm on growing tensions in South Asia, warning that the world is now “less safe” after India’s recent cross-border strikes.
Leading a high-level parliamentary delegation, Bilawal revealed that on May 7, India launched illegal strikes inside Pakistan, targeting civilian areas, religious sites, and critical water and energy infrastructure — in direct violation of the UN Charter and international law.
“Women and children lost their lives. This was not just an attack on Pakistan, it was an attack on peace,” said Bilawal.
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He said India used the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as a pretext for its aggression. Pakistan, on the other hand, had offered to cooperate in any impartial international investigation to uncover the truth — an offer rejected by India.
“We were confident because our hands were clean,” he said. “We never initiated violence. Pakistan only acted in self-defence when Indian aircraft violated our airspace.”
Bilawal confirmed that Pakistan’s military downed six Indian planes during the initial attack, responding with surgical precision. The conflict then escalated further with Indian missile strikes and a measured response from Pakistan.
Highlighting the role of global diplomacy, Bilawal thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for helping broker a ceasefire. But he warned: “This is only a first step. The threshold for full-blown military conflict between two nuclear-armed states has dangerously lowered.”
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He stressed the urgent need for continued dialogue and diplomacy to prevent future escalation. “The next time, the international community may not have enough time to intervene,” he cautioned.
Bilawal, who also served as foreign minister in Pakistan’s previous coalition government, emphasized the country’s long-standing sacrifices in the global war on terror. Pakistan has suffered the most from terrorism. We’ve lost lives, including that of my mother, Benazir Bhutto,” he said.
He pointed out that Pakistan completed the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) process, which recognized the country’s efforts in combating terrorism financing.
Bilawal condemned India for weaponizing terrorism as a political tool to demonize Muslims in India, IIOJK, and across the region. He urged both countries to work together to root out extremism. “Pakistan is ready to cooperate with India to combat terrorism. We can’t let non-state actors decide the fate of 1.7 billion people,” he asserted.
