Foreign Journalist Silences Bhutto with Mention of Indian Muslim Army Officer Leading Key Briefing
Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari faced a major setback during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday. While trying to project India in a negative light by claiming that “Muslims are being demonised” in the country, his statement was swiftly countered by a foreign journalist in the room.
The journalist pointed out that he had personally attended a briefing for India’s Operation Sindoor, which was led by a Muslim officer from the Indian Army. The mention of this real-life example left Bhutto momentarily speechless. He simply nodded without offering any rebuttal.
Operation Sindoor: Led by Women, Guided by Unity
The Operation Sindoor briefing highlighted India’s commitment to inclusion and professionalism. It was led by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a helicopter pilot from the Indian Air Force. Also present was India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The participation of a diverse group of senior officers shattered the very claims Bhutto tried to project at the global forum.
Bhutto’s Unanswered Plea for Dialogue
In the same press meet, Bilawal Bhutto tried to dial back the tone by stating that Pakistan is open to dialogue with India to combat terrorism.
“We can’t leave the fate of 1.5 or 1.7 billion people in the hands of non-state actors and terrorists,” he said. “This new abnormal, where two nuclear-armed nations live under constant threat, cannot be the new normal.”
His plea, however, seemed overshadowed by the earlier rebuttal.
For the first time in public, Bilawal Bhutto also acknowledged Pakistan’s failure to gain global support on the Kashmir issue, especially at the United Nations.
“The hurdles we face within the UN regarding the Kashmir cause still exist,” he admitted during the press conference.
Diplomatic Tour Mirrors India’s Strategy
Bilawal is currently leading a parliamentary delegation to the US, a move that mirrors India’s recent diplomatic efforts. His team has been tasked with projecting Pakistan’s stance on regional matters such as Kashmir, terrorism, and water-sharing.
Since arriving in New York on Monday, Bhutto’s delegation has held meetings with:
– UN Secretary-General António Guterres
– General Assembly President Philemon Yang
– Security Council President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
They also engaged with the permanent representatives of the US, China, Russia, France, and other key member states. Interestingly, their schedule in Washington, DC, overlaps with that of India’s own delegation, led by senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
