London, June 10, 2025: A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by former Foreign Minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, met with UK House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle in London on Tuesday to raise serious concerns over recent developments in South Asia.
The meeting comes in the wake of escalating regional tensions, particularly after the recent Pahalgam incident, which has strained Pakistan-India relations. Bhutto-Zardari rejected India’s accusations linking Pakistan to the incident, calling them “baseless and fabricated,” and criticized New Delhi for making such claims without proper investigation.
The delegation also expressed deep alarm over what it described as unprovoked Indian military aggression, which allegedly resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, on Pakistani soil.
A major point of concern was India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a key water-sharing agreement brokered in 1960. Bhutto-Zardari called the move a “grave violation of international law” and warned that it sets a dangerous precedent. He urged the international community to recognize the humanitarian and environmental consequences of weaponizing water, noting that millions of lives across the region could be at risk.
Bhutto-Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and dialogue but emphasized that durable peace in South Asia is not possible without a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The delegation cautioned that India’s actions risk eroding the rules-based international order and could destabilize the broader region. They called on the UK and other international stakeholders to press for adherence to international treaties and to discourage unilateralism.
In response, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle acknowledged the historic and enduring ties between the UK and Pakistan. He praised the contributions of the Pakistani diaspora to British society and affirmed the UK’s interest in promoting peace and stability in South Asia.
The Pakistani delegation included several prominent figures: Federal Climate Change Minister Dr. Musadik Malik, Senator Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Senator Faisal Ali Subzwari, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, and former Foreign Secretaries Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, was also present.
