In a week of intense diplomacy, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will begin his official engagements Monday to apprise world diplomats and officials in a series of meetings and appearances in New York and Washington D.C.
The clashes between India and Pakistan were triggered by the killing of 26 tourists in a militant attack in the Indian-controlled part of the disputed Kashmir region on April 22. New Delhi immediately blamed a Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba of perpetrating the terror attack and said Pakistan was responsible. Islamabad rejected the allegation and called for a neutral investigation into the incident.
India followed its threats by launching airstrikes on Pakistan on May 7, drawing a quick response from Pakistan.
The confrontation involved one of the biggest dogfights in modern history with Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied and India’s French-made high-tech warplanes pitched against each other.
As India launched strikes into Pakistani territory and Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets including Rafales in an embarrassing loss for India.
President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two countries on May 10, and later said he had averted a nuclear confrontation between the two South Asian rivals.
Next week, American and Pakistani officials will also discuss a bilateral trade deal following President Trump’s announcement of 29% tariff on all Pakistani imports.
As part of the worldwide reciprocal the U.S. tariffs are currently paused for 90 days to give time to negotiations.
Former foreign minister Bilawal is leading a delegation comprising former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Dr Musadik Malik, Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Faisal Subzwari, Tehmina Janjua, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt and Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Both India and Pakistan have assigned delegates to take respective their perspectives to world capitals as their battle of narratives follows May 7-10 conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors that raised fears of a full-blown war.
Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will also be in Washington this week, when the U.S. Congress returns to session.
The Pakistani parliamentary delegation is scheduled to visit New York from June 2 to 3 during which the members will meet with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the UN General Assembly.
They will also have meetings with ambassadors of permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security-Council.
Besides these meetings, the delegation will also brief the OIC members at the United Nations.
On the conclusion of the visit, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, along with other members, will interact with media representatives.
Bilawal Bhutto, who heads Pakistan Peoples Party and is a member of the Parliament, will also address Overseas Pakistan Society in New York.
In Washington, Pakistani delegation is expected to have audience with U.S. officials and members of Congress.
The members will also attend a conference on US-Pakistan relations at the Middle East Institute with Bilawal Bhutto to deliver closing remarks.
Panelists will discuss current challenges in the US-Pakistan relationship as well as explore avenues for future cooperation to ensure a stronger, more prosperous bilateral partnership, said the MEI, which is hosting the event in partnership with the International Academy of Letters USA.
After the U.S. visit, the delegation will travel to Brussels and London.
