Bilawal slams Jaishankar as ‘war-monger’, India of duplicity in peace talks

WEB DESK: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue for resolving the Kashmir dispute and other issues with India, while asserting that war is no solution to conflicts. Bilawal criticised Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, calling him a “war-monger rather than a diplomat,” and accused India of hypocrisy in its actions versus rhetoric. “India talks peace but acts otherwise,” he said.

Addressing the media after leading Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation at the United Nations, Bilawal said Pakistan had effectively presented its stance on the global stage. “The ceasefire phase is behind us, and we have maintained it,” he said, contrasting Pakistan’s approach with India’s “war-mongering” tactics during and after conflicts.

Bilawal wants US to persuade New Delhi for Pakistan-India talks

He accused India of basing its position on “lies” and said while Pakistan has the capability to counter India both militarily and diplomatically, it prefers peace. “Despite having the strength to respond, we choose dialogue,” he stated.

Bilawal praised the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, claiming Pakistan had “won the war” under his command. He also condemned India’s threats to block water flows, terming them illegal, and reiterated Pakistan’s clear stance on water-sharing disputes.

The PPP chairman also targeted India’s global standing, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism. “India has assassinated Sikh leaders,” he alleged, referencing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations of Indian involvement in terrorism. “India will have to withdraw terrorism as a diplomatic tool,” he asserted.

On US involvement, Bilawal welcomed President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for dialogue on Kashmir. “We take Trump’s goodwill as a commitment,” he said, adding that if needed, the US would bring India to the negotiating table “by the ear.”

He emphasised that Kashmir has regained diplomatic prominence after India’s 2019 move to scrap its special status. “Trump’s statements prove Kashmir is an international issue, not India’s internal matter,” Bilawal said, warning that India’s attempts to sabotage global peace efforts would fail.

The PPP leader confirmed Pakistan’s delegation would next head to Brussels to present its case to the European Union.