Pakistan delegation reaches UK after 'successful' talks in US
Photo: Bilawal Bhutto X
A high-level Pakistani delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has arrived in the United Kingdom following what officials described as "successful" diplomatic engagements in New York over last month’s military standoff with India.
The nine-member group held talks with United Nations representatives, diplomats from member states and senior US officials in an effort to present Pakistan’s narrative on the recent India-Pakistan conflict and advocate for peace in South Asia.
Wrapped up a pivotal peace mission leading Pakistan’s high-level delegation in New York @PakistanUN_NY @PakinNY and Washington DC @PakinUSA. Grateful to Team Pakistan, your dedication was critical to our success. We stood for dialogue, dignity, and a just future. Truth and… pic.twitter.com/YRAGlBkdOG
The latest military escalation between the India and Pakistan was triggered by an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on April 22, when 26 civilians were killed in Pahalgam.
India blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the attack, calling it terrorism—an accusation strongly denied by Islamabad. The claim led to Indian military strikes inside Pakistan, sparking days of intense cross-border hostilities between the two neighbours.
“Our message was clear – Pakistan seeks peace and wants all issues, including the Kashmir dispute and the Indus Waters Treaty, resolved through dialogue,” former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, a member of the delegation, said in London.
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Speaking to a local news channel, lawmaker Khurram Dastgir stressed the regional impact of the water dispute and called for the restoration of the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty, which India suspended in April.
“We explained to US officials that India’s suspension of the treaty endangers the livelihood of 240 million people and undermines the region’s stability,” he said.
Dastgir stressed that the water dispute is a matter of survival for Pakistan, asserting the country would not compromise on it.
He pointed out that the Americans initially assumed the ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump required no further involvement. "Our mission was to make them understand that intervention is necessary as India wants neither a neutral inquiry nor talks," Dastgir said.
Senator Sherry Rehman, another member of the group, said the focus of the mission was to advocate for peace and ensure the water treaty and Kashmir issue remain on the international agenda.
Also read: South Asia at brink over Kashmir and Indus Water Treaty, Bilawal warns US lawmakers
In the UK, the delegation is expected to meet senior British officials to highlight Pakistan’s stance on the conflict and its broader implications. British foreign secretary David Lammy recently visited both Islamabad and New Delhi following the ceasefire.
“We want stability, but recognise the fragility of the situation, particularly in the context of terrorism,” Lammy said, referring to concerns over security in the region. He did not disclose details of discussions with Indian leaders.
Islamabad maintains that New Delhi is denying Kashmiris their right to self-determination and has urged India to implement UN Security Council resolutions. India, in turn, accuses Pakistan of supporting armed militants in the region – a charge Pakistan denies.
Earlier, Bilawal urged Donald Trump to mediate efforts to ease escalating tensions between Pakistan and India.
In an interview with AFP, the former foreign minister called on Washington to push New Delhi towards comprehensive talks with Islamabad. While noting Pakistan's willingness to discuss terrorism, Bilawal said the Kashmir dispute must remain central to any meaningful dialogue.
Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who is leading a multi-party delegation to the US tells AFP in an interview that India’s so-called ‘new normal’ is very dangerous for the region and the world because by removing the onus of providing proof the Indians have sharply… pic.twitter.com/UbufbghYGk
He cautioned against India’s use of terrorism as a pretext for military escalation, warning that such actions threaten regional stability and endanger the lives of over 1.7 billion people in South Asia.
Speaking separately to Chinese media, Bilawal accused India of undermining peace through unilateral actions and cross-border aggression. He also encouraged the Pakistani diaspora in the US to unite in promoting peace and contributing to mutual progress.