Bilawal fears Iran-Israel conflict could trigger World War III

Express Tribune

20 hours ago

PPP Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday urged the international community to play its role in brokering an immediate ceasefire as the Iran-Israel military confrontation threatens to spiral out of control, warning that the world 'cannot afford this conflict to turn into Iraq 2.0 or World War III'.
Addressing a press conference in Brussels alongside a parliamentary delegation, Bilawal expressed concern over growing regional instability and the potential fallout for neighbouring countries. 'We certainly don't want war on our borders,' he said.
'Pakistan has condemned the strikes that took place over the last couple of days in our neighbouring country, and we will continue to advocate for peace on all our borders — be it with Afghanistan, Iran, or India.'
Read More: Iran says US, UK, France will be targeted if they intervene
Criticising what he called global failure to resolve conflicts diplomatically, he said: 'It has become far too easy to wage war every month. What is wrong with this generation? You were supposed to protect us from the scourge of war through dialogue and diplomacy. Instead, full-scale war has become the default setting for any dispute.'
Highlighting the generational consequences of war, he added: 'It is far easier for older generations to start these conflicts, but it's my generation that will have to pick up the pieces.'
Calling for restraint in the Middle East, the former foreign minister said: 'I absolutely call on the international community to play its role in immediately imposing a ceasefire in this Iranian conflict with the occupying forces in Palestine. We cannot have another petrol war. It serves none of our interests.'
لائیو: پاکستانی سفارتی مشن کے سربراہ بلاول بھٹو زرداری برسلز پریس کلب میں پریس کانفرنس کررہے ہیں۔ https://t.co/Df6Vlw7Xn2 — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 14, 2025
Turning to regional issues, Bilawal reiterated Pakistan's desire for durable peace in South Asia, especially through resolution of the longstanding Kashmir dispute and water-related issues with India. He said Pakistan had consistently sought peace through composite dialogue, but India had failed to reciprocate.
'The international community must step up and engage with India. Military confrontation is not a solution to the Kashmir dispute or terrorism. Dialogue is the only way forward,' he stressed, calling it a 'moral obligation' for world powers to help both countries return to the negotiating table.
The PPP chairman warned that escalation between two nuclear-armed states was not an option. 'Escalation is not a solution to the issues confronting India and Pakistan,' he said.
He also criticised India for unilaterally suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it a direct threat to Pakistan's survival. 'This is the first water war between two nuclear powers. Pakistan considers it a war with no choice and seeks international community's help in this regard.'
Also Read: Israel's Katz warns 'Tehran will burn' if missile strikes persist
Referring to the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Bilawal said Pakistan had offered impartial investigations into incidents such as the Pahalgam attack, but India refused. He urged the United Nations to place the Kashmir dispute at the top of its agenda, as it had remained unresolved for decades.
'The Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions,' he said. Bilawal was flanked by parliamentary delegation members, including Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, former defence minister Khurram Dastgir, and others.
'We are here to present Pakistan's stance on recent tensions with India and expose New Delhi's anti-Pakistan agenda,' Bilawal concluded.