Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Rejects Terrorism Allegations, Urges India to Resume Dialogue

ISLAMABAD:Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has categorically denied allegations that Pakistan supports terrorism, stating that the country does not allow any group to carry out terrorist attacks within or outside its borders.

In a hard-hitting interview with senior Indian journalist Karan Thapar, Bilawal emphasized that Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism for decades. “Over 92,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives in the fight against terrorism,” he said, adding that over 200 terror incidents occurred in the country last year alone, resulting in more than 1,200 deaths.

Addressing the issue of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Bilawal said the trial is ongoing in Pakistan, but India has failed to provide crucial evidence and witnesses, hindering progress. He urged the Indian government to cooperate in the legal process if justice is to be served.

Referring to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and recent attacks like the Jafar Express bombing, Bilawal claimed that these incidents demonstrate direct links between Indian intelligence and terrorist activity in Pakistan. He asserted that Pakistan has strong evidence connecting India to multiple terror incidents.

Responding to allegations of harboring terror groups, Bilawal clarified that figures like Masood Azhar are believed to be in Afghanistan, not Pakistan. He said, “If he is found in Pakistan, we will arrest him.”

Bilawal further pointed out that Pakistan has taken serious steps against terror financing, which have been verified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). “We registered 2,645 cases, arrested over 2,700 individuals, and convicted 549,” he said. He also noted that Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed was sentenced to 31 years in prison in 2022.

He criticized India for its disinformation campaigns and said that anti-Pakistan narratives pushed by the Indian media were misleading the public. “We do not want future generations of Pakistan and India to keep fighting over Kashmir, terrorism, or water issues,” he stated.

Bilawal called on India to resume comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan, saying, “Let’s sit down and talk. If India joins the negotiation table, we can make progress on all issues, including terrorism.”

During the tense interview, Bilawal pushed back against repeated interruptions by the host and warned, “If you don’t want to hear the answers, I might as well leave the program.”

The PPP Chairman concluded by reiterating his desire to see a South Asia free from terrorism and urged both nations to move beyond the past and work toward peace and stability.