NEW YORK: Pakistan has launched a broad-based diplomatic move in the United States to present its perspective on the recent spike in tensions with India, and counter New Delhi’s growing lobbying presence here.
A high-powered Pakistani delegation, consisting of two former foreign ministers, two former foreign secretaries, two former ambassadors to the US, and a serving federal minister, arrived in New York on Sunday for consultations at the United Nations.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Hina Rabbani Khar, Senator Sherry Rehman, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Tehmina Janjua, Mussadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir, Bushra Anjum Butt and Faisal Sabzwari comprise the delegation.
The Pak delegation is scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the president of the UN General Assembly, ambassadors of all five permanent members of the Security Council, and will address a joint session of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) envoys.
The delegation will kick off its engagements on June 3, with planned meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, senior administration officials, lawmakers, think-tank analysts, and leading media organisations. Their focus will be on conveying Pakistan’s concerns about regional security and responding to what it calls India’s “escalatory moves”.
This outreach is part of a dual-track strategy involving both official and informal engagements.
Another formal delegation from Pakistan, expected to be led by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, is also due soon for trade-related discussions with US officials.
On the Indian side, a parallel delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is also due in Washington on June 3, while Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri concluded a three-day official visit this past week.
“This is no longer just about border skirmishes,” a senior Pakistani diplomat said. “This is about shaping the international narrative to reflect ground realities.”
In Islamabad, there is growing concern that New Delhi has moved swiftly to frame the conflict in a way that revives scrutiny of Pakistan in multilateral bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the UN. Pakistan’s counteroffensive seeks to prevent what it sees as an Indian effort to turn the recent crisis into a long-term diplomatic liability for Islamabad.
Read more: BBZ Led Pak Team Arrives In New York To Meet UN, OIC Officials After India Standoff
