India’s belligerence alarming: Bilawal tells UNSC President, French envoy

Pakistan's visiting parliamentary delegation, led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, continued its diplomatic outreach in New York, engaging key international leaders to expose India’s recent acts of aggression and highlight the urgent need for peaceful conflict resolution in South Asia.

The delegation called on the President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and France's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, to convey Pakistan's concerns over escalating tensions following India's recent unilateral actions, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel on Wednesday.

During the meeting with the UNSC President, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasised Pakistan’s deep alarm over India’s baseless attribution of the recent Pahalgam attack to Pakistan without any credible evidence or investigation.

Bilawal stressed the importance of the Security Council's role in promoting de-escalation, resolving disputes, particularly the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir issue, and upholding international law and treaties.

He condemned India's unilateral military moves, deliberate strikes on civilians, and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. He asserted that weaponising water, a critical resource, sets a dangerous precedent and undermines international agreements with grave implications for regional peace.

Reiterating Pakistan’s stance, he said the country is one of the world’s biggest victims of terrorism and rejects it in all its forms. He warned against using any terrorist incident as a justification for illegal military action.

Bilawal also called for the immediate resumption of the Indus Waters Treaty and a dialogue-centred resolution to the Kashmir dispute as essential steps toward lasting peace in the region.

Rodrigues-Birkett reaffirmed the UN Security Council’s commitment to uphold international peace and security as per its mandate.

In a separate meeting, the French Ambassador to the UN, Jerome Bonnafont, also met with the Pakistani delegation. Bilawal briefed him on the alarming security developments in South Asia triggered by India's aggressive and unilateral moves.

He denounced India’s ongoing hostility, its unfounded claims over the Pahalgam incident, and its repeated violations of international law, warning that such actions destabilise the already fragile strategic balance in a nuclearised region like South Asia.

Bilawal underlined Pakistan’s restraint and responsible behaviour in the face of these provocations, asserting that Islamabad’s responses remain guided by international law and the UN Charter. He warned against India's dangerous effort to normalise arbitrary military strikes.

He emphasised the need to depoliticise the issue of terrorism, highlighting Pakistan’s decades-long sacrifices and successes in the fight against the menace, including terrorism allegedly funded and supported by India.

The Pakistani delegation called for France’s support in reviving the Indus Waters Treaty, ensuring a sustained ceasefire, and encouraging a comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan.

In response, Ambassador Bonnafont reiterated France’s commitment to regional peace and stability, emphasising the importance of restraint, dialogue, and adherence to international obligations in defusing tensions between the two South Asian neighbours.

Reporter: Anwar Abbas