NEW YORK (The Thursday Times) — Speaking to a press conference at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari stated that when India imposed aggression on Pakistan, the country exercised its right to defend itself. “We could have shot down 20 Indian aircraft, but we showed restraint and brought down only six,” he said. He added that terrorism has impacted Pakistan more than any other country, and both its political and military leadership have fought on the frontlines against terrorists. He further alleged that India used Israeli drones in its attacks on Pakistan and warned that India’s water aggression poses a serious threat to regional peace. The international community, he urged, must play a role in resolving the Kashmir dispute. Narendra Modi, he said, is a “cheap copy” of Netanyahu—a “Temu version” of him—and both promote extremism and hatred.
Narendra Modi is a poor copy — a temu version of Netanyahu — Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pic.twitter.com/Dz6t06A1Pa
— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) June 3, 2025
Pakistani diplomatic mission’s press conference
Addressing a press conference in New York, the head of Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, criticised India for blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam incident without investigation or evidence. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he noted, had offered India a proposal for independent investigation. India, instead, violated Pakistan’s airspace and carried out aggression that targeted innocent civilians, including women and children, and even destroyed mosques.
“We could have brought down 20 Indian aircraft, but we showed restraint and downed only six.”
Reiterating this point, Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan’s response was strong yet calculated. He explained that their forces had evidence identifying the six aircraft responsible for shelling Pakistani territory. He also accused India of fuelling terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while reaffirming that Pakistan strongly condemns all forms of terrorism and has paid a heavy price in the fight against it.
Pakistan has borne the greatest brunt of terrorism
“Pakistan has suffered the most from terrorism. I myself have been a target, and my mother was martyred by terrorists,” Bilawal stated. He added that Pakistan’s political and military leadership has fought on the frontlines, making sacrifices on battlegrounds like South Waziristan. “Terrorism should not be weaponised for political gain,” he said. He warned how quickly the recent escalation had unfolded, bringing two nuclear powers to the brink of war, and credited the international community, including the U.S. President, for playing a key role in brokering a ceasefire.
India used Israeli drones in attacks on Pakistan
The former Foreign Minister said India violated the UN Charter and international law by attacking Pakistani territory on 7 May. “These actions threaten regional security,” he warned, adding that the unresolved Kashmir issue lies at the heart of all instability. He claimed India had used Israeli drones in these attacks and said Pakistan possesses undeniable proof of Indian involvement in terrorism.
The Indus Waters Treaty
Speaking on water disputes, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called India’s water aggression a danger to regional peace and condemned India’s violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. “What would the world’s response be if someone cut off your lifeline?” he asked. He accused India of copying Israel in flouting international laws, saying that blocking water flows violates established treaties. “We will not allow water to be used as a weapon. Pakistan will defend its rights under any circumstances. We reject this water terrorism,” he declared.
Kashmir dispute
On the issue of Kashmir, the PPP Chairman said there is no military solution to the dispute. “Dialogue is the only way forward. We seek peace with India, but not on conditional terms,” he said. He emphasised that peace is only achievable through diplomacy and negotiations, and that India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special status closed the door to meaningful talks. He urged the global community to step up, as Kashmir is the root cause of conflict. He further accused the Modi government of committing severe human rights violations and said Pakistan holds an extensive list of complaints against India.
Israel in Palestine, India in Kashmir
Bilawal drew parallels between Israeli actions in Palestine and Indian policies in occupied Kashmir. “Just as Israel is establishing illegal settlements in Palestine, India is doing the same in Kashmir,” he said. “Modi faces two options—peace or destruction. The butcher of Gujarat is now spilling blood in Kashmir. Ignoring Kashmir will only fuel more tension,” he warned. “Pakistan is still willing to cooperate with India against terrorism, because we cannot leave the fate of over 1.5 billion people in the hands of non-state actors who could push two nuclear powers into war.”
Narendra Modi a “cheap copy” of Netanyahu
The head of the Pakistani diplomatic mission accused India of persistently making hostile statements and trying to enforce a new regional order. “Narendra Modi is a cheap copy of Netanyahu—his Temu version. The actions of both India and Israel are strikingly similar. Both leaders are extremists who propagate hatred,” he said. He warned that their policies are the biggest obstacles to regional peace, especially when water is already scarce and climate change is worsening. “Weaponising water is unacceptable for a civilised world,” he added.
Global community must take note of Indian aggression
“We have reached a point where, if another incident occurs, there may be no chance to correct the situation,” Bilawal warned. He urged the international community to take immediate notice of Indian aggression and act before it’s too late. “Tackling terrorism requires dialogue and cooperation,” he said. He also accused the Indian government of using terrorism to suppress Muslim identity within its own country. “The root of terrorism in Kashmir is the long-standing dispute still on the UN Security Council’s agenda.”
Pakistan’s relations with China and the U.S.
Regarding foreign relations, Bilawal noted that Pakistan maintains economic cooperation agreements with both China and the United States. He added that former U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed interest in pursuing a comprehensive trade deal with Pakistan.