Sun May 18 02:15:24 UTC 2025: **Pakistan Sends Bhutto-Zardari on Peace Mission, Accusations of Imitating India Fly**
Islamabad – In a move drawing comparisons to recent actions by India, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari with advocating for peace on the international stage. The decision comes shortly after India dispatched its own delegations to key global capitals to present its stance on terrorism, particularly in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent “Operation Sindoor.”
Bhutto-Zardari confirmed his acceptance of the assignment on social media, stating he was “honoured” to lead a delegation to present Pakistan’s case for peace.
The timing of Pakistan’s initiative has raised eyebrows, with some observers suggesting it is a direct response to India’s diplomatic efforts. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has clarified that while India is open to discussing terrorism with Pakistan, further dialogue will only occur if cross-border terrorism ceases. He added that the only discussion on Kashmir that India will have with Pakistan is regarding the vacation of illegally occupied regions.
India’s “Operation Sindoor,” launched on May 7, involved targeted strikes on alleged terrorist infrastructure within Pakistani-controlled territories, leading to a brief but intense military escalation between the two countries.
This isn’t the first time Pakistan has been accused of mirroring India’s actions. Recently, Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to a military base in Sialkot, complete with a speech to soldiers and a backdrop featuring the S-400 air defense system, was seen as a direct imitation of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to an airbase in Punjab. This latest development will likely further fuel the debate over the relationship between the two countries.
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