MT Desk: Two multi-party delegations dispatched by Pakistan to key world capitals as part of its diplomatic offensive against India, began their high-level interactions on Monday, with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led delegation holding talks with China and Russia’s UN ambassadors in New York. On the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, two separate delegations began their tour of New York, Washington, London, Brussels and Moscow in order to brief these countries about Pakistan’s stance in view of the recent military escalation with India. Bilawal, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman, is currently in New York, leading a nine-member delegation, comprising parliamentarians and former diplomats. Another delegation, led by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Fatemi, is visiting Moscow.

According to the Foreign Office, the delegations were scheduled to engage in a series of meetings with the leadership of international bodies, public office holders, senior officials, parliamentarians, think tanks, media and diaspora. Bilawal started his two-day visit to New York with an interview with a foreign news channel. Later, he met with China’s Permanent Representative to UN Fu Cong and Russia’s Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenziaand.

According to Express News, Bilawal thanked China for supporting Pakistan during the conflict with India. He apprised the Chinese ambassador of Pakistan’s responsible behaviour after April 22 attack in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) resort of Pahalgam. Bilawal said that India had rejected Pakistan’s offer for a transparent and impartial investigation into the attack. He stressed that the resolution of the Kashmir issue was indispensable for a lasting peace in South Asia.

The Pakistan delegation urged China to play its role in this regard. While expressing serious concerns over India’s targeting of Pakistani citizens during the four-day conflict, the delegation urged the international community to move beyond conflict management and towards dispute resolution.

During the meeting, there were unanimity between both sides in opposing unilateral actions and aggression. Both the sides emphasised the need for respecting the UN Charter, international laws and agreements. They also opposed India’s decision to weaponise water.

The delegation comprised DrMusadik Malik; Sherry Rehman; Hina Rabbani Khar; Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan; Faisal Subzwari; BushraAnjum Butt, Ambassador (retd) Jalil Abbas Jilani, and Ambassador (retd) TehminaJanjua.Later, the delegation briefed the Russia’s UN ambassador on the situation following the Pahalgam attack, rejecting India’s baseless accusations against Pakistan without any evidence, and highlighting its premature and unilateral actions, including the holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty. He noted that Pakistan’s measured and proportionate response – guided by restraint and international law – was aimed at preserving regional peace and avoiding a wider conflict. He underlined that Pakistan was the biggest victim of terrorism in which more than 80,000 civilians have lost their lives.

He also apprised the Russian diplomat of India’s sponsorship of terrorism inside Pakistan. He underscored that durable peace in the region hinged on the just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with international law. On the occasion, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik highlighted the humanitarian implications of holding the IWT in abeyance. Highlighting Pakistan’s mature and restrained approach, the delegation reiterated the country’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and regional stability. In an interview earlier, Bilawal reiterated Pakistan’s desire for peace through “dignity, strength and diplomacy”, and termed India’s actions after the Pahalgam attack dangerous and a violation of the international law.