Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stated that Pakistan is ready to engage in talks with India on terrorism, but the process will only be meaningful if Kashmir is given central importance on the negotiation agenda.
In an interview with French media, the former foreign minister expressed confusion over the Indian government’s reluctance to engage in dialogue. He suggested that former U.S. President Donald Trump should play a role in facilitating comprehensive Pakistan-India talks.
Bilawal accused India of introducing a dangerous new trend in South Asia, where it reacts with aggression after every incident of terrorism. He said India is trying to impose this approach across the region, which amounts to leaving over 1.7 billion people at the mercy of non-state actors.
Speaking at the Middle East Institute in Washington, Bilawal firmly stated that without India’s willingness to talk, resolving disputes will not be possible. He accused India of supporting terrorists within Pakistan and pointed out that banned groups are also operating from bases in Afghanistan.
He further emphasized that lasting peace in South Asia is impossible without resolving the Kashmir issue. He asserted that Kashmir is not an internal matter of India but an international dispute—something even the U.S. President has acknowledged. Bilawal warned that if another war breaks out between Pakistan and India, Trump may not have time to intervene. He added that India is forcing future generations into conflict over water.
In a separate interview with Bloomberg, Bilawal described India’s aggressive doctrine as a serious threat to regional peace. He noted that Indian aggression has heightened the risk of nuclear conflict in South Asia. He cautioned that, in the event of India using nuclear-capable missiles, Pakistan may have very limited time to respond, creating a highly dangerous situation.
