A day after India unveiled a global outreach mission led by MPs and diplomats, Islamabad attempts to present its ‘case for peace’ amid fallout from Operation Sindoor
May 18, 2025 | Islamabad– In a move widely seen as a reaction to India’s high-profile global anti-terror campaign, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has deputed former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to lead an international diplomatic mission aimed at promoting Pakistan’s “case for peace.”
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The announcement came just 24 hours after India launched its own seven-delegation global outreach, sending MPs and seasoned diplomats to 32 countries to advocate its zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and justify the Operation Sindoor strikes launched after the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack.
“I was contacted earlier today by Prime Minister @CMShehbaz, who requested that I lead a delegation to present Pakistan’s case for peace on the international stage,” Bhutto posted on X. “I am honoured to accept this responsibility and remain committed to serving Pakistan in these challenging times.”
🧭 India Sets the Pace
India’s outreach, led by figures like Shashi Tharoor, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Asaduddin Owaisi, and Ghulam Nabi Azad, is part of a coordinated diplomatic campaign to isolate Pakistan on the global stage after its alleged role in sponsoring cross-border terrorism.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated that it is open to talks only on terrorism and insists that the Indus Waters Treaty will remain suspended until Islamabad ends terror support. EAM S. Jaishankar has also clarified that any discussion on Jammu and Kashmir will be limited to the Pakistani-occupied areas.
🛡️ Operation Sindoor Fallout
India’s May 7 air and missile strikes targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, triggering a four-day military standoff involving drones, missiles, and cross-border escalation until a ceasefire was agreed on May 10.
The diplomatic response was swift and expansive, with India deploying cross-party teams globally to ensure international alignment against terrorism and highlight Pakistan’s complicity.
Also Read: Operation Sindoor: How India Used Dummy Jets To Cripple Pakistan’s Air Defence Network
🤝 Pakistan’s Copycat Moves
This isn’t the first time Pakistan has been accused of replicating Indian initiatives. Earlier this month, PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Sialkot military base mirrored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Adampur airbase, where Modi interacted with air force personnel against the backdrop of the S-400 missile defence system.
Sharif, during his visit, claimed a “victory” over India—a claim widely seen as propaganda after Pakistan suffered significant strategic losses in the short air conflict.
🎯 Analysis
While India aims to shape global opinion through structured diplomacy involving cross-party representation and career diplomats, Pakistan’s move appears reactive and lacks the same scale or multilateral political buy-in. Analysts suggest Bhutto’s mission may struggle for credibility amid mounting evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism.
🏷️ Tags:
India-Pakistan tensions, Operation Sindoor, Bilawal Bhutto, Pakistan diplomacy, India global outreach, anti-terror campaign, Shashi Tharoor, Shehbaz Sharif, S Jaishankar, terrorism, foreign policy, OperationSindoor,