ISLAMABAD: Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India, the schedule of the high-level diplomatic delegation formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to present Pakistan’s position on the global stage has been finalized.
The delegation, led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is set to begin its visit to the United States on June 2, with its main engagements scheduled in New York and Washington.
According to diplomatic sources, the visit will begin in New York where the delegation will hold an important meeting with the UN Secretary-General. The talks will focus on the deteriorating security situation in South Asia, especially in light of the recent border clashes and political rivalry with India.
After New York, the Pakistani delegation will travel to Washington, where it will meet senior Trump administration officials, members of the US Congress, think tanks and media representatives. The aim of the visit is to convey Pakistan’s perspective on the recent Pak-India conflict, clarify its position on the triggers of the war and emphasize the need for international mediation to ensure peace in the region.
A key agenda item will also be the possible suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. The delegation will highlight the security threats and regional instability that such a move could trigger.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Pakistan strongly condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks in Gujarat, calling them an “invitation to hate-fueled violence” and a worrying departure from the political maturity of the leader of a nuclear-armed state.
The Foreign Office expressed deep concern over the deteriorating tone and rhetoric of the Indian leadership and urged the international community to take serious note of the potential threat to regional stability posed by such statements.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Modi’s speech, delivered with campaign fervor rather than the prudence befitting a head of government, risked setting a dangerous precedent in an already volatile region. “We regret the continued erosion of political maturity and decency in Indian statecraft,” he said.
The spokesperson stressed that such provocative rhetoric violates the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter, which obliges member states to resolve disputes peacefully and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty and political independence of other states.
