Pakistan has announced plans to send Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on a global peace mission in a bid to salvage its image after facing international scrutiny for supporting terrorism. This decision comes in response to India’s announcement of sending a delegation abroad to present a case against terrorism.
Bilawal, the chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has been chosen to lead the global peace mission to counter India’s delegation, which includes Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. In a Facebook post, Bilawal expressed his acceptance of the responsibility and commitment to serving Pakistan during these challenging times.
Intelligence sources reveal that the Pakistani Army believes Bilawal’s Western education and proficiency in English make him a suitable candidate to represent Islamabad against the Indian delegation. Pakistan aims to use the mission as an opportunity to rebrand itself on the global stage from a terror-sponsored state to a peace-loving nation.
The decision to choose Bilawal for the peace mission is seen as a calculated political and diplomatic strategy by Pakistan’s civilian-army establishment. Bilawal, along with Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz, have positioned themselves as the new young leaders of Pakistan, distancing themselves from older rivals such as Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Bilawal has been given three tasks at the Global Peace Mission. Firstly, he is tasked with lobbying at international forums to counter India’s narrative of Pakistan as a terror exporter. Secondly, he will promote Pakistan as a peaceful investment destination, citing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an example. Lastly, he will highlight the Kashmir issue as a humanitarian crisis and seek third-party mediation, which could be a cause of concern for India.
However, there are concerns that Bilawal’s involvement in the peace mission could undermine his credibility in India, which views Pakistan’s mission as a PR stunt guided by the Pakistani army to counter India’s efforts to declare Pakistan a terror state. It remains to be seen how Bilawal’s role in the global peace mission will impact relations between the two countries.
