Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari declared that Pakistan has decisively broken the back of terrorism, asserting that surrender is not in the national lexicon. He called on the international community to step up its support for Pakistan in a war that he said is being fought not only for national survival but for global peace.
Addressing a high-level international conference titled “Pakistan’s War Against Terrorism: A Global Perspective,” Bilawal said no other country has suffered greater human or financial losses in the fight against terrorism than Pakistan. “We have sacrificed the most burying over 92,000 of our people yet we remain steadfast. This war is not over, but Pakistan’s resolve is unshakable,” he said.
He stated that military operations such as Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad shattered the operational capacity of terrorist networks. “We have fought this war with courage, conviction and clarity. Our message is unequivocal: Pakistan will never bow before terrorists. Surrender is simply not in our dictionary,” he declared.
Bilawal warned that while traditional militant threats persist, digital propaganda now poses a new and complex dimension to terrorism. “This era demands not just bullets and boots, but firewalls of truth and digital readiness,” he added.
Afghanistan Must Honour Doha Commitments, End Cross-Border Terror
The PPP chairman issued a stern message to the Taliban-led interim Afghan government, urging it to uphold its obligations under the Doha Agreement. “We have categorically conveyed that Afghan soil must not be used to launch attacks on Pakistan. Unfortunately, after the Taliban’s return to power, cross-border attacks have surged by 40 percent,” he revealed.
He emphasised that Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts are not limited to its borders. “We are fighting this war for global peace. It is time the international community recognised this reality and stood by Pakistan with concrete support,” he urged.
Youth Empowerment and Regional Peace Cannot Wait
Bilawal said that with 65 percent of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, investment in youth is not just a development priority but a national security imperative. “Our young people need fast internet, not digital firewalls. We must give them tools of opportunity, not barriers,” he said.
Turning to India, Bilawal condemned New Delhi’s policy of constant blame games and called for meaningful engagement. “Terrorism has no religion, no borders. India must rise above political rhetoric and join global efforts to defeat terrorism,” he said. He invited Indian leadership to resume dialogue, especially on core disputes like Kashmir. “Let us sit down. Let us talk. Let us resolve. Peace in South Asia cannot wait,” he stressed.
He also called on India to abandon its dangerous tactic of weaponising water and instead learn from Pakistan’s sacrifices and expertise in combating terrorism.
“Pakistan has proven its mettle in the most protracted and complex counterterrorism war of the 21st century. The world must now match its words with action,” Bilawal concluded.
