Setback to Pak: No country supports Bilawal’s Kashmir agenda

In what has come as a setback to Pakistan, there was no support from any country on its Kashmir agenda at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue by raking it up again at the UNSC on 14 December drew a blank, with not a single word of support coming from member countries of the Council, diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian.

Bhutto’s outburst and uncivilised remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not also find any taker at the global forum, say sources. “In personal interactions, most of FM Bhutto’s counterparts from the UNSC member nations expressed displeasure over the comments that he made against PM Modi,” sources said.   

“During interactions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the foreign ministers of various countries in New York condemned Pakistan FM’s attempt to derail the discussions on terrorism by raising the Kashmir issue,” sources said.  “In what can be viewed as India’s diplomatic triumph, Pakistan’s Kashmir agenda did not get any support from the UNSC member countries,” sources said, adding, “Not a single word of support for Bhutto’s views came from any other country till date.”  “On the contrary, Bhutto was asked by senior leaders in New York to ensure that the government in Islamabad takes some concrete and credible steps against terrorists active on the territory under Pakistan’s control,” said sources.

Pakistan FM did not succeed in persuading the world community on his Kashmir agenda, as all his arguments met with disapproval from the global leaders, sources said. Bhutto playing victim card on the issue of terror was also rejected by the international community. “In fact, Jaishankar’s strong and powerful counter to Bhutto’s remarks sounded more convincing to the global community,” said a source. “A country that hosted slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and attacked a neighbouring Parliament does not have credentials to sermonize before the Council.” 

These were words with which Jaishankar had hit back at Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue. There is no denying that the international community was convinced how Pakistan provided safe haven to Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks in America. 

The Indian foreign ministry statement describing Bhutto’s remarks as a new low even for Pakistan was endorsed by foreign ministers of various key countries, diplomats who have feedback from the embassies of the Council member nations on the entire development told TDG.