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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Civil–military unity behind improved US engagement, says Khawaja Asif
Listen to article Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has termed Civil–military unity behind improved US engagement as he described the meeting between Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump as a 'milestone' in the history of Pakistan–US relations. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir held a one-on-one meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House over lunch on Wednesday. During the two-hour meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies. They also exchanged views on regional security matters, including counter-terrorism efforts, the recent ceasefire between Pakistan and India, and rising tensions in the Middle East. فیلڈ مارشل عاصم منیر اور صدر ٹرمپ کی ملاقات پاک امریکہ تعلقات میں ایک سنگ میل ھے۔ اس سے پہلے امریکہ صدر کی پاکستانی آرمی چیف کی دعوت اور ملاقات کی مثال نہیں یہ تعلقات کی 78سال کی تاریخ سب سے اھم موڑ ھے۔ اس ملاقات میں جسطرح بین الاقوامی اور خطہ کے معاملات زیر بحث آۓ اس سے وطنُ… — Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) June 19, 2025 In a statement posted on X, Asif said that never before in the 78-year diplomatic history of the two countries had a US president invited and met a Pakistani Army chief in this manner. 'This is a turning point in the 78-year history of our relations,' he said. 'The way regional and international issues were discussed during this meeting highlighted Pakistan's strategic importance. Our role in resolving global matters was acknowledged.' According to Asif, the discussion also brought renewed international attention to the longstanding India–Pakistan disputes, particularly the situation in Kashmir. 'This is the success of the current hybrid model of governance,' he added, referring to the political-military coordination under PM Shehbaz Sharif and COAS Munir. 'The revival of the economy, India's diplomatic setbacks, and the dignified, successful improvement in relations with the United States — all these revolutionary changes have been made possible due to the strong coordination between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.' Read More: Trump calls meeting COAS Munir an honour at White House luncheon US President Donald Trump called his meeting with COAS Munir 'an honour' after a luncheon held at the White House on Wednesday. Speaking to the media after the event, Trump extended his gratitude to Pakistan's military chief for visiting and acknowledged the army chief's role in helping avert further military escalation with India. 'It is an honour for me to meet Asim Munir,' Trump said. 'I invited him to thank him for not going to war. He deserves appreciation for helping secure the ceasefire.' 'Pakistan and India are both nuclear powers,' the US president said. 'We're in talks with Pakistan on a trade agreement. The leadership of both nations is truly remarkable.'
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Avoiding talks will hurt India's own interests: Bilawal
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during an interview with Sky News on June 9, 2025. Photo: Sky News/ YouTube Listen to article Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged India to return to the negotiating table, warning that continued avoidance of dialogue would only harm regional peace and India's own interests. 'All outstanding issues between Pakistan and India can only be resolved through comprehensive dialogue,' he said. 'If India does not come to the table, it will not be in their favour.' Speaking in an interview with German broadcaster DW Urdu during a visit to Brussels on Sunday, former foreign minister warned that any attempt by India to block Pakistan's water supply would be seen as an existential threat, leaving Pakistan with no option but war. پاکستان اور بھارت کے درمیان تمام مسائل کا حل جامع مکالمہ ہے اور اگر بھارت مذاکرات کی میز پر نہیں آتا تو یہ ان کے اپنے ملک کے مفاد میں نہیں۔@BBhuttoZardari — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 15, 2025 Bilawal, who is leading a parliamentary delegation to the West, also urged the international community a day earlier to bring India to the table for talks and to play its role in ensuring lasting peace in South Asia — including resolution of the longstanding Kashmir dispute, water issues, and terrorism — through a composite dialogue, which he said India was unwilling to pursue. 'Such actions pose an existential threat to Pakistan, water is our lifeline, and we will never relinquish our rightful share under any circumstances,' he said. He termed India's threats to cut off water as a "clear violation of the United Nations Charter" and a "breach of the Indus Waters Treaty", calling it Pakistan's 'red line.' 'If India resorts to water aggression, Pakistan will be left with no choice but war,' he said. بھارت کی طرف سے پانی روکنا واقعی جوہری جنگ کا باعث بن سکتا ہے۔ پاکستانی سفارتی مشن کے سربراہ اور چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے برسلز میں ڈی ڈبلیو سے گفتگو میں کہا ہے کہ سندھ طاس معاہدے کی کھلی خلاف ورزی پاکستان کی ریڈ لائن ہے۔@BBhuttoZardari — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 15, 2025 The PPP chairman emphasised that while Pakistan does not seek war, it will not compromise on its national security or water rights. 'Despite India's involvement in supporting terrorist activities inside Pakistan, we have never advocated for war as a response to terrorism,' he added. Bilawal reiterated that while Pakistan continues to advocate peace, issues like water security are non-negotiable. After ceasefire with India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilawal to lead a high-level delegation tasked with presenting 'Pakistan's case for peace' on recent Indian aggression to the international community. Read More: Bilawal vows strong response if India builds dams on rivers flowing into Pakistan The committee aims to engage with global leaders and institutions to raise awareness about India's actions and Pakistan's concerns regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. The government has also planned to send additional delegations to other countries as part of a broader diplomatic outreach.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bilawal fears Iran-Israel conflict could trigger World War III
PPP Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday urged the international community to play its role in brokering an immediate ceasefire as the Iran-Israel military confrontation threatens to spiral out of control, warning that the world 'cannot afford this conflict to turn into Iraq 2.0 or World War III'. Addressing a press conference in Brussels alongside a parliamentary delegation, Bilawal expressed concern over growing regional instability and the potential fallout for neighbouring countries. 'We certainly don't want war on our borders,' he said. 'Pakistan has condemned the strikes that took place over the last couple of days in our neighbouring country, and we will continue to advocate for peace on all our borders — be it with Afghanistan, Iran, or India.' Read More: Iran says US, UK, France will be targeted if they intervene Criticising what he called global failure to resolve conflicts diplomatically, he said: 'It has become far too easy to wage war every month. What is wrong with this generation? You were supposed to protect us from the scourge of war through dialogue and diplomacy. Instead, full-scale war has become the default setting for any dispute.' Highlighting the generational consequences of war, he added: 'It is far easier for older generations to start these conflicts, but it's my generation that will have to pick up the pieces.' Calling for restraint in the Middle East, the former foreign minister said: 'I absolutely call on the international community to play its role in immediately imposing a ceasefire in this Iranian conflict with the occupying forces in Palestine. We cannot have another petrol war. It serves none of our interests.' لائیو: پاکستانی سفارتی مشن کے سربراہ بلاول بھٹو زرداری برسلز پریس کلب میں پریس کانفرنس کررہے ہیں۔ — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 14, 2025 Turning to regional issues, Bilawal reiterated Pakistan's desire for durable peace in South Asia, especially through resolution of the longstanding Kashmir dispute and water-related issues with India. He said Pakistan had consistently sought peace through composite dialogue, but India had failed to reciprocate. 'The international community must step up and engage with India. Military confrontation is not a solution to the Kashmir dispute or terrorism. Dialogue is the only way forward,' he stressed, calling it a 'moral obligation' for world powers to help both countries return to the negotiating table. The PPP chairman warned that escalation between two nuclear-armed states was not an option. 'Escalation is not a solution to the issues confronting India and Pakistan,' he said. He also criticised India for unilaterally suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it a direct threat to Pakistan's survival. 'This is the first water war between two nuclear powers. Pakistan considers it a war with no choice and seeks international community's help in this regard.' Also Read: Israel's Katz warns 'Tehran will burn' if missile strikes persist Referring to the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Bilawal said Pakistan had offered impartial investigations into incidents such as the Pahalgam attack, but India refused. He urged the United Nations to place the Kashmir dispute at the top of its agenda, as it had remained unresolved for decades. 'The Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions,' he said. Bilawal was flanked by parliamentary delegation members, including Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, former defence minister Khurram Dastgir, and others. 'We are here to present Pakistan's stance on recent tensions with India and expose New Delhi's anti-Pakistan agenda,' Bilawal concluded.
