Pakistani delegation arrives in UK after high-stakes US tour on regional peace

London: A high-level nine-member Pakistani diplomatic delegation has arrived in the United Kingdom after concluding an intensive series of engagements in Washington and New York aimed at highlighting Pakistan’s stance on regional peace, the Kashmir issue, and India’s recent provocations.

The delegation, led by former foreign minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, conducted over 50 meetings in five days with US lawmakers, members of Congress, senators, UN officials, and members of the US State Department. The visit came in the wake of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India following a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and subsequent military skirmishes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The Pakistani delegation included senior politicians and diplomats: former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Senators Sherry Rehman and Musadik Malik, former defence minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, former diplomats Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua, along with Syed Faisal Subzwari and Senator Bushra Anjum Butt.

The diplomatic push follows the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, IIOJK, where gunmen killed at least 26 civilians. India immediately blamed Pakistan, claiming the attack was a terrorist act orchestrated from across the border. Pakistan denied the accusations, calling them baseless and politically motivated.

In response to the Pahalgam incident, India launched military strikes against civilian infrastructure in Pakistan, triggering several days of military engagement. Islamabad described New Delhi’s actions as unprovoked aggression, while stressing its commitment to regional peace and dialogue.

Speaking during the US tour, Senator Sherry Rehman clarified that the Pakistani delegation’s visit coinciding with that of Indian officials was not an attempt to counter or “chase” India diplomatically. “Our story is our own story,” she said. She emphasized that the delegation had come with a message of peace and highlighted that American lawmakers were receptive to Pakistan’s position.

Rehman stressed the seriousness of India’s actions, stating, “Everyone agreed that the weaponisation of water is dangerous,” and accused New Delhi of increasingly adopting the posture of a belligerent state. She called attention to the dire human rights situation in IIOJK, labelling it the “world’s largest open-air prison.”

Rehman warned that Pakistan would respond if provoked again but reiterated the desire for negotiations and peaceful resolution. She said while Pakistan had multiple grievances against India, its mission was to advocate peace, not aggression.