Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto Wants RAW-ISI to Work Together, India Not Convinced
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Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that if India’s intelligence agency RAW and Pakistan’s ISI work together, terrorism in South Asia could be significantly reduced.
Speaking at a press conference at the United Nations Headquarters on Tuesday, Bhutto said that if RAW and ISI join hands, there will be a big drop in terrorist attacks in both countries. He added that both sides should talk and cooperate, especially on the issue of terrorism.
Bhutto is currently leading a high-powered Pakistani delegation to the United States to gain international support following recent tensions with India.
Bhutto’s remarks came at a time when a high-level Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, had just arrived in Washington, D.C., to meet U.S. lawmakers and officials as part of India’s diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which terrorists backed by Pakistan killed 26 innocent civilians. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor and carried out precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) in the early hours of May 7.
Following these Indian strikes, Pakistan attempted to retaliate on May 8, 9, and 10, trying to target Indian military bases. However, the Indian Armed Forces responded strongly and effectively, sending a clear message that India will not tolerate cross-border terrorism.
Now, Bilawal Bhutto’s statement urging RAW and ISI to cooperate appears to be an effort to possibly divert attention from Pakistan’s support for terrorism.
Indian security experts say that Pakistan’s ISI has long been linked to terror outfits and cross-border infiltration. Before talking about cooperation, Pakistan must first dismantle terror camps and stop sponsoring attacks on India.