South Asian Peace
A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, briefed member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the United Nations on the escalating security crisis in South Asia.
The meeting focused on India’s recent military actions and its attempts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack without any credible investigation.
Addressing the OIC Permanent Representatives in New York, Bilawal firmly rejected India’s “baseless and premature” accusations implicating Pakistan in the April 22 attack. He underscored that the absence of evidence and due process in attributing responsibility was deeply troubling and indicative of a pattern of reckless behavior by New Delhi.
According to a press release from Pakistan’s Mission to the UN, he accused India of using the incident as a pretext for unlawful cross-border strikes that targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure inside Pakistan.
Bilawal expressed serious concern over India’s unilateral suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty — a move Pakistan views as an act of “weaponising water.” He emphasized that this action not only violates international obligations but sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine regional stability. “We cannot allow this to become a new normal,” he warned, calling on the international community to resist such dangerous escalations.
The delegation head reiterated Pakistan’s enduring commitment to peace, dialogue, and diplomacy. He thanked the OIC countries for their role in promoting de-escalation and ceasefire and called for the immediate restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty, full respect for the Line of Control ceasefire, and the resumption of a comprehensive dialogue process with India. He stressed that the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains central to lasting peace in the region.
Bilawal commended the OIC for acting as the “moral conscience of the world” during turbulent times and acknowledged the body’s continued support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He urged member states to remain steadfast in their principled backing of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
In response, the Permanent Representatives of OIC member states appreciated Pakistan’s transparent and timely briefing. They reaffirmed their solidarity with Pakistan and reiterated deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in South Asia.
The representatives underscored the importance of upholding the UN Charter, respecting international law, and preserving the sanctity of treaties, including the Indus Waters Treaty. They welcomed Pakistan’s call for dialogue and reaffirmed support for a peaceful resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions.
