Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly criticised the Taliban’s failure to uphold commitments made under the Doha Agreement, warning that their broken promises are contributing to rising instability across the region. Speaking at the international conference “Pakistan’s War on Terror for the World” hosted by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, he urged Afghanistan’s interim government to fulfill its obligations and take responsibility for the growing cross-border threat.
“We didn’t choose this war, but when terror crossed into our land—from our mountains to our marketplaces—we stood our ground and chose to resist,” Bilawal declared. He affirmed that Pakistan’s fight against terrorism is far from over, emphasizing that the country remains committed to securing a peaceful future for coming generations.
Highlighting Pakistan’s sacrifices, he noted that 2024 was the deadliest year in a decade, with 685 security personnel martyred in 444 separate incidents. Civilian casualties numbered 1,612, including everyday citizens—teachers, shopkeepers, and traffic officers. “These are not statistics,” he said, “but empty chairs at breakfast tables. Every loss strengthens our resolve.”
Bilawal warned that Afghanistan must act to prevent further chaos. “We saved Kabul. Sovereignty demands responsibility,” he said. “Stop the exodus of fighters, choke arms trafficking, and honour the blood price of the Doha Accord—or face the consequences of your alliances.”
He underscored the transnational nature of terrorism, warning that violent ideologies no longer operate within geographic boundaries. “Terrorism is borderless. A bomb in Peshawar may be wired by a tutorial from Damascus and ideologically charged in a northern African chatroom. This fight is not Pakistan’s alone—it’s a collective defense of civilisation.”
He condemned the spread of terrorist propaganda online, calling it a global threat: “When groups like the TTP or Majid Brigade post manifestos, their messages echo far beyond the Durand Line—reaching Paris, Perth, and beyond. If we stand down, who will stand up?”
Call for Dialogue with India
Turning to relations with India, Bilawal urged New Delhi to re-engage in meaningful dialogue to secure lasting regional peace. He stressed the urgency of resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of its people and called for an end to the weaponization of water resources.
Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Achievements
Recounting Pakistan’s two-decade struggle against extremism, Bilawal noted that the nation’s armed forces, with the support of resilient citizens, have significantly weakened global terrorist networks. He highlighted major military operations—Zarb-e-Azb, which cleared northern strongholds, and Radd-ul-Fasaad, which dismantled urban sleeper cells—as pivotal successes. Ongoing operations in Balochistan, he said, are now severing the link between separatist elements and foreign-backed militants.
A Global Call to Action
Bilawal urged the international community to draw lessons from Pakistan’s counterterrorism experience and recognise that violent extremism knows no religion, border, or nationality. “Terrorism obeys no law or belief system,” he said. “It is a threat to all humanity, and only a united global response can eliminate it.”
