ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari asserted on Tuesday that Pakistan's determination is rooted in the pursuit of freedom and justice, not conflict, as tensions with India intensify following a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
The April 22 incident in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, mostly tourists, marked one of the deadliest assaults in the region in decades. India quickly suggested cross-border involvement, though it has yet to provide any credible evidence. Pakistan has categorically denied any role and has urged an impartial, international investigation into the tragedy.
Addressing the National Assembly, Bilawal declared, “Pakistan was not involved in that heinous act. We do not export terrorism—we are victims of it.” He described the country’s battle against terrorism as deeply personal and hard-fought, highlighting the sacrifices of Pakistani soldiers and civilians. “We have laid to rest our schoolchildren and soldiers. Our fight against terrorism has not only been through arms but through ideas, education, reforms, and national unity,” he stated.
Bilawal challenged India’s credibility in counterterrorism, questioning how a country that engages in state oppression in Kashmir can claim to fight terror. “Terrorism cannot be defeated by tanks and bullets alone. It must be dismantled through justice, hope, and by addressing the grievances that fuel it,” he said.
As military tensions rise—with India reportedly granting its forces operational leeway and Pakistan reinforcing border defenses—Bilawal called for diplomacy over aggression. “If India truly seeks peace, let them come forward with sincerity, not hostility; with evidence, not propaganda,” he said.
He voiced support for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for an independent probe into the Pahalgam attack, questioning India’s reluctance. “A true victim of terror does not fear accountability—unless the truth threatens to expose Delhi, not Islamabad,” he added.
In a pointed message, Bilawal said, “Let India choose—dialogue or destruction, cooperation or confrontation. Pakistan’s resolve to fight is not born out of a thirst for conflict but a love for freedom.”
Meanwhile, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a blatant violation of international law. The resolution also rejected India's baseless attempt to implicate Pakistan in the Kashmir attack, condemning what lawmakers termed an orchestrated smear campaign for political gain.
