Pakistan-India Should Collaborate on Climate and Terrorism: Bilawal Bhutto

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the need for Pakistan and India to engage in discussions on shared challenges such as climate change and terrorism during a media talk with ARY News. Bilawal expressed hope that India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, would engage with Pakistani media during his visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2024.

Climate Change and Terrorism are Shared Challenges

Bilawal highlighted that both Pakistan and India are among the countries most affected by climate change, stressing that future generations will not forgive current leadership if these pressing issues are ignored. He also pointed out the reality of terrorism, stating that despite accusations from both sides—India often blaming Pakistan and vice versa—terrorism remains a common threat that needs collective action.

Multilateralism in SCO as a Model for Regional Cooperation

Bilawal suggested that Pakistan and India could learn from the multilateral cooperation promoted by the SCO, which enables member countries to address major issues collectively. He expressed optimism that this approach would encourage the two countries to set aside their bilateral differences and work towards common goals, such as enhancing regional security and addressing environmental degradation.

SCO Summit 2024: A Platform for Regional Progress

The 2024 SCO Summit, hosted in Islamabad, is a significant event reflecting Pakistan’s role in regional diplomacy. The summit’s key agenda focuses on enhancing security cooperation, improving trade and investment networks, and tackling climate change. High-level representatives from China, Russia, India, and other regional powers are attending, underlining the importance of multilateral dialogue in fostering peace and prosperity.