CHAIRMAN Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has rightly pointed out that after suffering a humiliating defeat on the battlefield, India also failed in its diplomatic campaign against Pakistan abroad, while Islamabad’s narrative prevailed on the international stage.
Speaking in Karachi after leading a high-level delegation’s visit to some important capitals, he emphasized the delegation’s efforts in conveying Pakistan’s message on peace, Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty and counter-terrorism during visits to New York, Washington DC, London and Brussels. PPP Chairman said Islamabad had overcome India’s efforts to undermine it at the diplomatic level, adding that the country won the diplomatic battle through tireless efforts.
The outcome of the visit is a clear testimony that the decision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to assign leadership of the delegation to Bilawal was correct as he effectively put across Pakistan’s point of view on all issues of interest to the country, especially in the backdrop of recent standoff with India. The entire world bore witness to the fact that despite its numerical disadvantages, Pakistan broke the myth of India’s perceived superiority in conventional war as Pakistan defence forces inflicted a pinching defeat on the enemy because of their professionalism, command on technology and above all indomitable spirit to defend the cause of the motherland at all costs. It is also a reality that after its miserable failure to achieve military objectives, India tried its level best to hoodwink the international public opinion on the basis of false narrative and an aggressive diplomatic campaign but these efforts bore no fruit in the face of fact-based narrative of Pakistan, superbly conveyed by the Prime Minister, the Army Chief and the diplomatic delegation before, during and after the short war with India. As underlined by Bilawal, Pakistan stood on the side of truth, while India relied on falsehood — a contrast that was evident in the international media, where Pakistan’s narrative gained traction and India’s failed to resonate. It is because of the prudent diplomacy that the Kashmir issue was back on the global agenda to the utter frustration of India and the world is viewing Pakistan as a vital regional player and stabilizer. We hope our Foreign Office will continue to take full advantage of the improved stature and image of the country to promote its security and economic interests in a highly competitive environment.
