ISLAMABAD: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), expressed optimism on Tuesday that India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar would engage with the Pakistani media during the upcoming SCO Summit in Islamabad. He emphasized the need for both nations to address shared challenges such as climate change and terrorism.
Bilawal highlighted the importance of multilateral dialogue, citing the success of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a model for how member states can collaboratively tackle pressing issues rather than becoming mired in bilateral disputes.
“A conversation is essential,” he stated. “While both countries have differing views, we must remember that Pakistan and India are among the most affected by climate change. Terrorism is another pressing reality; whether India blames us or we point fingers at RAW, the threat persists. Engaging in dialogue could help us find common ground and ultimately save lives in both countries.”
Bilawal stressed that failure to address climate change would have dire consequences for the future of both nations. He also expressed hope that Jaishankar would engage openly with the Pakistani media, as he did during his visit to India for the 2023 SCO Summit. While acknowledging that the Indian minister might raise allegations against Pakistan, Bilawal stated that Pakistan, as the host, would refrain from responding in a way that could detract from the summit’s focus on constructive dialogue.
