Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has cautioned that global silence over Israel’s military actions against Iran could pave the way for wider conflict. “If we fail to speak out for Iran today, no one will be left to speak for us tomorrow,” he said during a session of the National Assembly.
Echoing the sentiment of Martin Niemöller’s renowned poem, Bilawal remarked: “They came for the Palestinians, the Lebanese, and the Yemenis, and now Iran. If we remain silent, this aggression will consume us all.” He accused Israel of pushing the region toward a global conflict, stating that its campaign of violence risks triggering a broader war.
His comments follow Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian territory, intensified further by U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear installations. Bilawal has been actively leading Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, including high-level engagements in the U.S. and Europe, particularly after last month’s hostilities with India.
Referring to Pakistan’s military response to India’s cross-border action in Pahalgam, he noted that Pakistan had successfully downed six Indian fighter jets and dozens of drones in Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. A ceasefire was achieved after nearly four days of conflict, mediated by the United States.
Bilawal stressed that Pakistan had not only achieved military success but had also gained narrative and diplomatic victories. He criticized the Indian leadership as a “cheap replica” of Israel’s Netanyahu and declared that Pakistan’s messaging had gained international traction.
Turning to Kashmir, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the region, stating that India could no longer hide behind its claim that Kashmir is an internal issue. “There’s a growing international consensus supporting the Kashmiri people’s rights,” he added.
Addressing water-related tensions, Bilawal declared India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty as unlawful and warned that any attempt to block Pakistan’s water would constitute a violation of the UN Charter. “Should India proceed with diverting rivers or constructing dams, Pakistan will have no choice but to respond militarily,” he said. “We will protect every drop from our six rivers.”
He criticized a domestic political party for attempting to derail Pakistan’s IMF programme and accused India of repeatedly failing in its attempts to label Pakistan a terrorist state.
In terms of economic matters, Bilawal voiced support for the federal government’s Rs17.57 trillion budget for fiscal year 2025-26. While endorsing the 10% and 7% raises in salaries and pensions, he expressed the PPP’s preference for greater allocations. “We wanted 30% of the Public Sector Development Programme funds reserved for South Punjab,” he stated, also urging federal financial backing for Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to security challenges.
Concluding his speech, Bilawal said that although the PPP is not in the cabinet, it remains a representative voice of the people in national decision-making.
