Trump, Putin Address Pakistan-India Conflict Amid Global Diplomacy
News Desk
Islamabad: The recent armed conflict between Pakistan and India continues to draw international attention, as the issue surfaced during a recent phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin confirmed that the conflict—halted through the direct intervention of President Trump—was among the key topics discussed.
According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the two leaders spoke for approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Alongside the Middle East, they also addressed the India-Pakistan confrontation and the ongoing war in Ukraine. President Putin reportedly emphasized Moscow’s intention to respond to recent attacks on its airbases.
The conflict between the South Asian neighbors erupted after a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists. India accused Pakistan of orchestrating the incident—a charge Islamabad vehemently denied. This led to cross-border military strikes, with India targeting civilians and Pakistan responding through Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.
Pakistan’s military claimed it downed six Indian Air Force jets, including three Rafales, and shot down multiple drones. After nearly four days of hostilities, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was reached on May 10, drawing global praise and easing tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.
In the aftermath, both Islamabad and New Delhi have launched diplomatic campaigns to present their narratives on the conflict. Pakistan’s effort is led by former Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who heads a nine-member parliamentary delegation visiting various countries.
The delegation includes prominent figures such as Hina Rabbani Khar, Sherry Rehman, Dr. Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Tehmina Janjua, Bushra Anjum Butt, and Syed Faisal Subzwari.
During an address to the Pakistani diaspora in New York, Bilawal highlighted the global threat posed by a potential nuclear conflict in South Asia, stressing the need for the international community to remain engaged. He called on India to abandon its aggressive strategy and resume comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan, emphasizing that resolving the Kashmir dispute must be a core component of any talks.
In an interview with China’s CCTV News, Bilawal advocated for the creation of a permanent, joint investigative body between India and Pakistan to examine terror attacks like the one in Pahalgam. Such a neutral platform, he said, could ensure justice and help prevent future bloodshed.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, Bilawal asserted that the country’s military actions were purely defensive. He reiterated the call for international mediation, warning that recent escalations had dangerously lowered the threshold for full-scale conflict between the two countries.
On the Indian side, a potential opening for dialogue was hinted at by Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who recently led an all-party delegation to Brazil. Tharoor indicated that India could consider talks—provided Pakistan takes visible steps to dismantle what he described as the “infrastructure of terrorism” within its territory.
