Latest news with #BilawalBhuttoZardari
Arab News
2 hours ago
- General
- Arab News
Pakistani delegation arrives in New York to meet UN officials, OIC members after India standoff
ISLAMABAD: A nine-member Pakistani delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has arrived in New York to meet top United Nations officials and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) members, state-run media reported on Monday, as Islamabad prepares to present its perspective on its recent military standoff with arch-rival India. Constituted by the Pakistani prime minister last month, the delegation received a briefing from the foreign office on Pakistan's military standoff with India last month. Bhutto Zardari said his team also received a briefing from the foreign office on contentious issues like the Kashmir dispute, 'terrorism,' and India's unilateral move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan and India last month engaged in the most serious fighting between them since 1999. Both pounded each other with missiles, drone strikes and artillery fire in four days of conflict before US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire on May 10. Tensions had soared after India blamed Pakistan for being involved in an April 22 attack on a tourist resort in the part of Kashmir administered by India. Islamabad denied involvement. 'A nine-member parliamentary delegation led by Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is in New York to hold meetings with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the UN General Assembly, as well as the Ambassadors of Permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security-Council,' state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 'During the visit, the delegation will present Pakistan's perspective on the recent military clash with India and to counter New Delhi's disinformation campaign.' It did not specify how long the delegation would stay in New York. The state broadcaster said that besides these meetings, the delegation will also brief members of the OIC at the UN. Bhutto Zardari, along with other members of the delegation, will also interact with media representatives during his visit to New York. The development takes place as India presents its point of view to the world on its recent conflict with Pakistan. The Indian government has appointed Congress party lawmaker and author Shashi Tharoor as the head of a delegation in its attempts to convince world capitals that Pakistan supports cross-border 'terrorism' and to justify New Delhi's attacks against its neighboring country last month. Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought two out of three wars over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir since 1947. Both govern the territory in parts but claim its ownership in full. India accuses Pakistan of harboring militants who carry out cross-border attacks targeting citizens and law enforcers in the Kashmir territory that it administers. Pakistan denies the allegations and says it only extends diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir. While the ceasefire between the two countries has continued to hold since last month, tensions persist as India vows to hold in abeyance the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan has said any attempts to divert or stop its flow of water would be considered an 'act of war.'
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Bilawal-led delegation reaches US
NEW YORK: A Pakistani delegation led by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has arrived in New York to present a case against India's growing war hysteria and aggression. 'During their stay in New York, the delegation members will have several meetings, including with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the UN General Assembly, as well as the Ambassadors of Permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council,' reports said. The delegation will remain in New York until June 2 and hold meetings with several key global figures. During their stay, the delegation will meet with the UN Secretary-General, the President of the UN General Assembly, and members of the UN Security Council to brief them on the escalating regional tensions caused by India's provocative actions. The Pakistani team will also meet with representatives of the Non-Aligned Movement and provide a detailed briefing to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) group in New York. 'Besides these meetings, the delegation will also brief OIC members at the United Nations.' On June 3, the delegation will travel to Washington, where they will remain until June 6. There, the group will engage with US officials and leading think tanks to further highlight India's aggressive stance and communicate Pakistan's peaceful position. Earlier, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his delegation met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before their diplomatic mission to seek guidance on how best to present Pakistan's stance. During the meeting, Bilawal expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister's trust in assigning him such a critical task. He also discussed strategies to effectively counter India's aggressive and extremist agenda under Modi's government. The Prime Minister, in return, expressed confidence that Bilawal's leadership would allow the delegation to strongly present Pakistan's narrative on the international stage. Also present in the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musaddiq Malik, Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bilawal-led delegation in US to brief Pakistan's stance on Indian aggression
Listen to article A high-level parliamentary delegation led by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reached United States to represent Pakistan's position on the recent conflict with India, Express News reported on Sunday. The high-level diplomatic visit led by Bilawal, who has also served as the country's foreign minister, comes in the wake of India's escalation following the Pahalgam attack. Both nuclear-armed neighbours experienced heightened military tensions, during which Pakistan shot down six Indian aircraft. A ceasefire was reached following the intervention of US President Donald Trump. According to sources, the committee headed by Bilawal will meet members of the US administration, Congress, think tanks, and media outlets to brief them on Pakistan's stance regarding the escalating tensions with India. The delegation aims to highlight what it calls the root causes of potential Pakistan-India conflict and raise concerns over India's disinformation campaigns and foreign-influenced operations targeting Pakistan. Read: PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir vow to crush Indian-sponsored terror in Balochistan at grand jirga The committee will also meet United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York, followed by meetings with senior officials of the Trump administration in Washington. A key focus will be the implications of any disruption to the Indus Waters Treaty and its potential impact on regional security. "The parliamentary team will clearly communicate how India's provocations and disinformation threaten regional peace," a source familiar with the visit said. The delegation is expected to remain in the US until June 9, after which it will travel to the United Kingdom and then continue on to various European countries. Prominent members of the delegation include former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, former envoy Jalil Abbas Jilani, Khurram Dastgir, and Musadik Malik. Read More: Pakistan never requested ceasefire: DG ISPR After ceasefire with India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilawal to lead a high-level delegation tasked with presenting 'Pakistan's case for peace' on recent Indian aggression to the international community. The committee will engage with global leaders and institutions to raise awareness about India's actions and Pakistan's concerns regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. The government has also planned to send additional delegations to other countries as part of a broader diplomatic outreach.
Arab News
a day ago
- General
- Arab News
Pakistani delegation to meet UN, OIC leaders from June 2-3 following India standoff
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is scheduled to meet leaders representing the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in New York from June 2-3, state-run media reported on Sunday, in Islamabad's latest diplomatic push following its conflict with India last month Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced in May that a Pakistani delegation would present Islamabad's position and advocate for the country in world capitals following its recent military conflict with India. Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India are high after they agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 following the most intense military confrontation in decades. Both countries accuse the other of supporting militancy on each other's soil — a charge both capitals deny. The nine-member parliamentary delegation led by Bhutto Zardari will present Pakistan's perspective on the recent military clash with India and 'counter New Delhi's disinformation campaign about the conflict,' the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. 'During their stay in New York, the delegation members will have several meetings, including with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the UN General Assembly, as well as the Ambassadors of Permanent & non-permanent members of the UN Security Council,' APP said. 'Besides these meetings, the delegation will also brief OIC members at the United Nations.' The latest military escalation, in which the two countries traded missiles, drone attacks and artillery fire, was sparked after India accused Pakistan of supporting militants who attacked dozens of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, killing 26. Islamabad denies involvement. Tensions persist between India and Pakistan as after the April tourist attack, Delhi 'put in abeyance' its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. The treaty governs the usage of the Indus river system. The accord has not been revived despite the rivals agreeing on a ceasefire last week following the conflict. Islamabad said after India suspended the treaty that it considered 'any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan' to be an 'act of war.' About 80 percent of Pakistani farms depend on the Indus system, as do nearly all hydropower projects serving the country of some 250 million. In a media interaction last month, Bhutto Zardari said his team had received a briefing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the recent standoff with India and ceasefire brokered by the US, as well as on contention issues like the Kashmir dispute, terrorism, and India's unilateral move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sindh will present pro-people budget: CM
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday held a high-level Cabinet meeting with Ministers, Advisors, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah and relevant secretaries to deliberate on provincial budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. The meeting underscored government's commitment to inclusive development, poverty alleviation, and sustainable progress in line with the directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Opening the session, Murad Shah said, 'I want to engage all cabinet members thoroughly in shaping the next budget to ensure it addresses the real needs of our people. Under Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's leadership, we have collected proposals from every district to make this budget representative and impactful.' The CM outlined the core focus areas of the new budget, emphasising water supply and drainage, solar energy expansion, education, healthcare, agriculture, and industrial growth. 'This year (2024-25), we have not introduced any new schemes under the priority to complete ongoing projects,' he said. He added that in the upcoming budget, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has issued instructions for launching new initiatives that bring tangible benefits to the people. The important highlights from the meeting include continued rehabilitation efforts for flood-affected communities, repair of schools and hospitals, and launching new mega projects through Public-Private Partnerships to boost infrastructure and services, strengthening social protection programmes aimed at eradicating poverty and increasing budget allocations for repair and maintenance, as well as upgrading hospital equipment and completion of transport projects in Karachi to improve urban mobility. Proposals given by the cabinet members include reducing non-development expenditures and empowering local governments to become financially self-reliant, introducing digital cash transfers with incentives to enhance social welfare delivery, expanding solid waste management and solar energy systems across the province, and constructing new bus stands in multiple districts to improve public transportation. The CM also highlighted the importance of federal-provincial coordination, stating, 'We will finalise the budget based on the federal government's funding commitments (provincial share) and our provincial revenue targets to ensure fiscal responsibility and effectiveness.' 'After Eid, we will hold further meetings to finalise and approve the budget proposals. Our goal is to present a budget that is transparent, development-oriented, and focused on improving the lives of every Sindh resident,' the Chief Minister concluded. This proactive approach signals Sindh's dedication to sustainable development, social equity, and efficient governance in the coming financial year.
