Amid rising regional strain, a senior-level delegation from Pakistan—headed by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari—has touched down in New York to engage global stakeholders and challenge India’s current diplomatic momentum at the United Nations.
The visit, scheduled to span until June 2, includes a series of high-stakes engagements with key figures in the international arena. Bilawal and his team will hold dialogues with top UN officials, including the Secretary-General, the General Assembly President, and representatives of the Security Council.
Their agenda also features interactions with influential blocs such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where Pakistan intends to emphasize its viewpoint on the rapidly evolving South Asian situation.
The team’s journey will then extend to Washington, D.C., from June 3 to June 6, where meetings are slated with prominent U.S. officials and policy think tanks. The goal: to broaden support for Pakistan’s stance and clarify Islamabad’s interpretation of the recent crisis.
This diplomatic outreach follows India’s own global campaign led by Shashi Tharoor, a parliamentarian spearheading efforts to shape international opinion in favor of New Delhi. His itinerary includes stops in several strategic capitals, including Washington, London, Doha, and Johannesburg.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reportedly formed the current Pakistani delegation with a clear directive—to respond assertively to New Delhi’s narrative and communicate Islamabad’s position on the ground realities behind the growing hostilities.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, taking to X (formerly Twitter), expressed his resolve to represent Pakistan abroad and reaffirmed his dedication to navigating the country through diplomatic turbulence.
This diplomatic push arrives in the wake of a deadly incident in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 civilians lost their lives on April 22. Indian media swiftly pointed fingers at Pakistan, a charge Islamabad flatly rejected.
Further escalating the situation, India carried out air raids across the Line of Control on the night of May 6. Pakistan’s military responded robustly, intercepting and downing enemy aircraft.
Islamabad then launched a counteroffensive, codenamed Banyān-um-Marsoos, on May 10, hitting Indian military sites. A truce was eventually brokered with the intervention of former U.S. President Donald Trump, bringing temporary calm to the volatile region.
