ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while lambasting Imran Khan’s government said that country’s new leadership both political and military have ruled out talks with terrorist organisations that don’t respect the country’s laws and constitution. I am confident that if we can work with Afghan interim government, which has influence over these groups, we will be successful in maintaining our security, he said in wide-ranging interview with The Washington Post senior Associate Editor, Lally Weymouth in Davos.

He said Imran Khan gave TTP a place to hide, not only did he release their prisoners who were in Pakistan custody, but also engaged in dialogue with them. Imran Khan has always been ideologically sympathetic to their point of view, he added.

Moreover, FM Bilawal Bhutto called for revamping and restructuring of international financial institutions to address complaints of global south. Speaking at dialogue session ‘Security and Coordination’ in Davos, he stressed that we should return to normative functioning of international institutions for resolution of disputes and other challenges including climate change being faced by global community. He said that prevailing disputes which have endangered world would have been resolved amicably if international institutions under UN framework are working according to needs of current era. On Ukraine issue, he said we hope that eventually space will be created for dialogue and diplomatic engagement in order to resolve conflict sooner rather than later. He said there is need to see more proactive approach from both Russia and Ukraine and also pursue diplomacy in pursuit of peace. Responding to military element of this conflict, Bilawal Bhutto said diplomacy is key thing that is missing in entire issue.

Earlier, talking to President of Google for Asia-Pacific Scott Beaumont at sidelines of World Economic Forum he said Pakistan looks forward to fostering public private partnerships with Google to scale up country’s digital economy and skills. Two sides discussed ways to augment Pakistan’s technical support for forecasting extreme weather events.

Responding to question, he agreed that if Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who was assassinated in 2007 had lived not only Pakistan would have been different place, but region would have gone in different direction.

Also asked whether he could become Prime Minister this year, FM Bilawal said that he would have to win an election first.

Obviously, he added, my party will be hoping that we win. However, I don’t believe that any one party will be able to solve all of Pakistan’s problems. If our party wins most votes, I will seek to form government as Prime Minister and have coalition.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 21 2023

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