ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Former Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to take a proactive role in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, citing growing threats to regional stability following recent developments.
Leading a high-level parliamentary delegation to the UN Headquarters in New York, Bilawal delivered a letter from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, voicing concerns over India’s military actions and unilateral decisions, including the suspension of the *Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan Seeks UN Mediation on Indus Treaty, Kashmir
During the meeting, Bilawal called on the UN to assist in restoring the normal functioning of the Indus Waters Treaty, terming its suspension a “form of water warfare” that endangers millions in Pakistan.
“This isn’t just about water. It’s about survival,” Bilawal said, highlighting the humanitarian risks posed by the disruption of river flows into Pakistan. He warned against the “weaponisation of water” and emphasized that the treaty serves as a vital lifeline for over 240 million people.
Bilawal also urged Guterres to support efforts for a *comprehensive dialogue* between Islamabad and New Delhi on the *Kashmir dispute*, which he said remains “an unfinished agenda of the United Nations.”
UN Chief Reaffirms Support for Peace
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Pakistan’s appeal for peace and dialogue, reaffirming the UN’s continued engagement in promoting de-escalation and peaceful dispute resolution in South Asia.
Delegation Challenges Indian Narrative on Global Stage
The Pakistani delegation’s two-day visit aims to present the country’s perspective on escalating tensions with India, particularly after the *April 22 Pahalgam attack* in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan denies any involvement and had offered to participate in an impartial investigation—an offer India reportedly declined.
“Pakistan only ever acted in self-defence. We never initiated any violence,” Bilawal told reporters.
The delegation includes prominent political figures such as *Hina Rabbani Khar, Sherry Rehman, Dr Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Tehmina Janjua, Bushra Anjum Butt, and **Syed Faisal Subzwari*.
Bilawal Criticizes Modi, Warns of Escalation Risks
Speaking to journalists, Bilawal criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of fostering an environment of impunity and aggression.
“Modi has become the butcher of Gujarat and Kashmir. He now wants to trample the Sindh civilisation too,” he said, claiming India is trying to establish a dangerous “new normal” in the region.
He added that the *ceasefire, while welcome, is only a first step and noted that the threat of a **nuclear conflict* has increased.
Delegation Heads to Washington
After concluding the UN meetings, the delegation has arrived in Washington, D.C., where they are expected to engage with US officials and think tanks until June 6. Bilawal is also scheduled to interact with the media and thank the Trump administration for its offer to mediate the Kashmir dispute.
Sources confirmed that Bilawal will continue highlighting India’s water policy, military provocations, and refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue, urging the United States to support a peaceful resolution in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Pakistan’s diplomatic push at the UN underscores its call for urgent international intervention to avert further deterioration in South Asia. By raising concerns over the Kashmir conflict and the Indus Waters Treaty, Islamabad seeks to challenge India’s stance and press for a return to diplomacy in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
