Bilawal Bhutto Urges India for Dialogue to Combat Terrorism and Resolve Kashmir

Zain Ul Abideen
July 2, 2025
4:34 pm
Reading Time 5

On July 2, 2025, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), spoke at a conference in Islamabad titled “Pakistan’s War on Terror for the World.” He invited India to join Pakistan in peace talks to fight terrorism, resolve the Kashmir dispute, and address water conflicts. His message was simple: let’s work together for a peaceful future.

Bilawal highlighted Pakistan’s 20-year battle against terrorism. The country’s armed forces and citizens have fought groups like Al-Qaeda, Daesh (ISIS), and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Operations such as Zarb-e-Azab, Raddul Fasaad, and efforts in Balochistan have weakened these terrorist networks.

However, the fight has been costly. In 2024, Pakistan lost 685 soldiers in 444 attacks, the deadliest year in a decade. “Surrender is not in Pakistan’s dictionary,” Bilawal said, showing the country’s commitment to a safe future.

In the grim arithmetic of the last two and half decades, Pakistan has buried 9200 sons and daughters, civilians and soldiers alike. Our economy has forfeited more than a billion dollars in lost growth, shattered infrastructure, and displaced livelihoods. And we still fight… pic.twitter.com/x1lXNVixfZ
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 2, 2025

Pakistan’s Key Anti-Terrorism Operations

Operation	Goal	Impact
Zarb-e-Azab	Targeted terrorists in northern areas	Weakened TTP and Al-Qaeda networks
Raddul Fasaad	Removed terrorist cells in cities	Reduced urban terror activities
Balochistan Operations	Fought foreign-funded terrorism	Disrupted separatist and terror groups

Bilawal extended an “olive branch” to India, urging dialogue to fight terrorism together. He called terrorism a “global crisis” that ignores borders, religion, or nationality. He believes India and Pakistan can work as partners, not enemies, to tackle this threat.

He also addressed the Kashmir dispute and water weaponization. “Let’s solve Kashmir based on what its people want. Let’s stop using water as a weapon,” he said. Bilawal wants both nations to focus on peace and their shared history from the Indus Valley civilization.

This isn’t the first time Bilawal has called for talks. He has warned that without dialogue, terrorism and regional instability will grow.

Bilawal criticized Afghanistan’s Taliban government for breaking promises made in the Doha Agreement. He said they promised stability but allowed a 40% rise in attacks on Pakistan. Groups like TTP and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are using Afghanistan as a safe haven to launch attacks.

“We saved Kabul. Sovereignty comes with responsibility,” Bilawal said, urging the Taliban to stop the flow of fighters and weapons.

Bilawal called for global cooperation to fight terrorism. He urged the world to learn from Pakistan’s experience and provide support like modern technology, weapons, and funding for counter-terrorism efforts. He also highlighted the danger of digital propaganda in spreading extremism.

Pakistan’s removal from the FATF gray list shows its commitment to fighting terrorism. Bilawal sees this as a chance for India and others to join Pakistan in tackling this global threat.

Bilawal’s call for dialogue could change the future of India-Pakistan relations. Solving issues like the Kashmir dispute and water conflicts could bring peace to South Asia. His speech also reminds the world of Pakistan’s sacrifices, with countless lives lost and economic challenges faced in the fight against terrorism.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s call for India-Pakistan peace talks is a bold step toward fighting terrorism and resolving disputes like Kashmir and water issues. Pakistan’s efforts in the war on terror show its strength, but global and regional support is needed for lasting peace.