Key points
- Former Pakistan FM emphasises Pakistan’s enduring sacrifices
- Over the last 25 years, Pakistan has lost 92,000 civilians and soldiers: Bilawal
- Economic losses exceed $150 billion: former foreign minister
ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister of Pakistan and Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Wednesday said Pakistan was a frontline defender in the global fight against terrorism.
“Pakistan is not drifting through the storm of global terrorism. We are steering, often alone,” said Bilawal, in his address at a conference titled “Pakistan Fighting War for the World Against Terrorism”, as he emphasised the nation’s enduring sacrifices.
“Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto didn’t just raise her voice — she raised the flag of Pakistan where militants vowed to bring it down. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto warned us of the threat, stood tall when others shrank, and led from the front.
Today, her vision lives on as we… pic.twitter.com/kwiNW2S2jP
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 2, 2025
“Over the last 25 years, Pakistan has lost 92,000 civilians and soldiers, with economic losses exceeding $150 billion. In 2024 alone, 685 security personnel were martyred in 444 attacks, alongside 1,612 civilian casualties,” he said.
Terrorism transcends borders
Bilawal stressed that terrorism transcends borders.
“A bomb in Peshawar today draws its fuse from a chatroom in northern Africa,” he noted, calling Pakistan’s struggle “civilisational self-defence on behalf of all humanity.”
He highlighted Pakistan’s successes in dismantling terrorist networks through military operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, while calling for greater international recognition and respect.
“Respect is the minimum dividend of sacrifice,” he said, urging global actors to support Pakistan with modern technology, structured investment, and equitable burden sharing.
Bilawal criticised the Afghan Taliban for providing sanctuary to terror outfits and reminded Kabul of its obligations under the Doha Agreement.
Call for dialogue
Addressing India, he proposed a renewed partnership to jointly combat terrorism, urging dialogue and peaceful resolution of Kashmir.
Calling for a “Digital Bill of Rights,” Bilawal advocated for curbing online extremist content and holding tech platforms accountable. He emphasised the need for smart power, combining military efforts with education, development, and economic opportunity.
In a message to extremists, he warned that “hashtags will be repatriated to the courts,” affirming Pakistan’s commitment to dismantling hate from all fronts.
Ending with a call for global unity, Bilawal said, “When the dust of this era settles, the chronicles will record that Pakistan—misunderstood, maligned, yet magnificent—stood at the trench line… and dragged humanity back from the brink.”
