Bilawal Bhutto’s ‘Muslims Demonised in India’ Claim Wrecked by Journalist at UN Presser

Former Pakistan Foreign Minister and current Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, faced a moment of public embarrassment at a United Nations press briefing on Tuesday when his claims of Muslims being “demonised” in India were sharply fact-checked by a journalist. Bhutto was attempting to link the recent Pahalgam terror attack to alleged vilification of Indian Muslims.

During the press conference, where Bhutto was reiterating Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, he alleged that the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, was being politicised by India to target its Muslim population.

However, a journalist present at the event swiftly challenged Bhutto’s sweeping generalisation. Citing firsthand experience, the journalist pointed out that official briefings from the Indian side regarding ‘Operation Sindoor’ – India’s retaliatory military action – were, in fact, conducted by Muslim officers of the Indian military.

“You said that the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir is being used as a political tool to demonise Muslims in India. But, sir, I have watched briefings on both sides, and as far as I recall, there were Muslim Indian military officers who were conducting the briefings on the Indian side,” the journalist countered.

The pointed question visibly unsettled Bhutto, who offered no substantial rebuttal and merely acknowledged the journalist’s observation, stating, “As far as the operations are concerned, you’re absolutely right.”

The journalist’s reference was to the prominent roles of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force, who were among the officers leading India’s media briefings on ‘Operation Sindoor’. Their visible presence had been widely noted as a powerful symbol.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is currently leading a nine-member Pakistani parliamentary delegation to the United States. This visit is part of Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to present its narrative on the recent regional tensions following the Pahalgam attack and India’s subsequent ‘Operation Sindoor’. The composition of the Pakistani delegation, which includes three former foreign ministers, is seen by some as mirroring India’s own recent global outreach, where an all-party parliamentary team, including opposition leaders like Shashi Tharoor and Asaduddin Owaisi, has been touring several countries to articulate New Delhi’s stance.

India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes led to four days of intense clashes, which concluded with an understanding between the two nuclear-armed neighbours on May 10 to cease military actions. India has maintained that its firm counter-attack compelled Pakistan to seek an end to the hostilities.

Bhutto’s press conference at the UN aimed to push for a “comprehensive dialogue” with India, covering all issues including terrorism, and to urge the international community to play a role. However, the on-the-spot rebuttal of his claims regarding the treatment of Muslims in India has highlighted the challenges his delegation faces in its diplomatic mission.