Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to head a diplomatic mission aimed at presenting Pakistan’s position on the international stage. This initiative comes in the aftermath of rising hostilities between Pakistan and India, following a deadly militant attack in the Pahalgam region of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s Office, was attended by top leadership from both PPP and the ruling coalition, including Senator Sherry Rehman and former foreign affairs minister Hina Rabbani Khar. The PPP, currently aligned with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the federal level, is expected to play a central role in shaping diplomatic outreach in the coming weeks.
Bilawal, who previously held the post of foreign minister during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) tenure, confirmed via a post on social platform X that he had accepted the prime minister’s invitation to spearhead the effort. “I was approached by PM Shehbaz earlier today with the request to represent Pakistan’s voice for peace across international platforms,” he stated. “It is an honour to serve the country in this capacity during such trying circumstances.”
The high-profile delegation set to accompany Bilawal includes notable political and diplomatic figures such as Musaddiq Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Senator Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, Faisal Sabzwari, former foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua, and seasoned diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani. The team will travel to major global capitals, including Washington, London, Brussels, and Paris, to convey Islamabad’s stance and urge the international community to take notice of recent Indian actions.
At the strategic meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence in Bilawal’s leadership, stating that he believes the delegation would successfully communicate Pakistan’s narrative and promote its interests abroad.
The discussion also saw the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Climate Change Minister Musaddiq Malik, Political Advisor Rana Sanaullah, and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.
The diplomatic push follows Pakistan’s military response to continued ceasefire violations and what it described as aggressive incursions by Indian forces. Codenamed Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, Pakistan’s counterstrike reportedly targeted several Indian military positions across various sectors.
Pakistani defense officials described the operation as calibrated and justified, claiming that six Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, and numerous unmanned aerial vehicles were downed. The confrontation, which spanned nearly four days, concluded with a ceasefire on May 10, mediated by the United States.
The recent conflict and subsequent diplomatic mission mark a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s efforts to reposition its global narrative, seeking to counter what it sees as India’s provocations with a message centered on peace and regional stability.
