KARACHI: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari declared his recent visit to India a “success” as he addressed the media in Karachi upon his return. Bhutto claimed that the trip successfully challenged the “false propaganda” of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that all Muslims are terrorists.
The foreign minister spoke at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting in India, where he urged SCO members to refrain from using terrorism for diplomatic point scoring. Bhutto-Zardari highlighted that the BJP and its Hindu nationalist affiliate, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, are attempting to create a myth by declaring Muslims and Pakistanis as terrorists.
During the media briefing, Bhutto-Zardari revealed his surprise that despite having one of the largest Muslim populations in the world, the BJP did not field any Muslim candidates for provincial and federal legislatures. In contrast, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Bhutto-Zardari’s party, has presented Hindi candidates who have gone on to become ministe
The foreign minister dismissed Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar’s comments that his address “reveals the mindset of that country” and called it an expression of insecurity. Bhutto-Zardari added that Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism are recognized globally, and India’s narrative that every Muslim is a terrorist has become stale.
Furthermore, he stated that India’s attempt to propagate the falsehood that United Nations Security Council resolutions, international laws, and bilateral agreements hold no importance, and that Pakistan’s representatives continue to counter India’s narrative on Kashmir. He went on to add that Pakistan and Kashmiris refuse to accept India’s actions of August 5, 2019, when it revoked occupied Kashmir’s special status. He concluded that Pakistan’s representatives would continue to talk about terrorism and Kashmir and counter India’s propaganda and one-sided message.
Bilawal Bhutto’s visit to India aimed to challenge the BJP’s false propaganda and to counter India’s narrative on terrorism and Kashmir. His address at the SCO meeting aimed to urge SCO members to refrain from using terrorism for diplomatic point scoring
The foreign minister highlighted the need for a “conducive environment” for talks between India and Pakistan. He stated that both countries want peace, but it is up to India to create the appropriate atmosphere for discussions to occur.
Also Read: Bilawal Bhutto asks India to build conducive environment for talks
The foreign minister made it clear that India’s decision to end the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 was a significant factor that has negatively impacted the relations between the two countries. The violation of UN resolutions by India’s actions has made it difficult to hold discussions on the matter.
