London: In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and the ensuing military confrontation with India, Pakistan has dispatched a high-level delegation to the United Kingdom in a fresh diplomatic effort to counter global backlash and promote its version of events.
The nine-member Pakistani delegation, including former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, is in London after holding discussions with senior UN officials and diplomats from multiple countries in New York. The visit comes just days after India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), in retaliation for the June 2 attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 Indian lives.
Speaking to Express Tribune, Jilani said, “Our message was clear – Pakistan seeks peace.” He further emphasized that Islamabad preferred diplomatic dialogue for resolving all contentious issues, including those related to the Indus Waters Treaty, which India has currently placed in abeyance as part of its punitive response to cross-border terrorism.
The conflict, which lasted four days, escalated rapidly after Pakistan’s retaliatory targeting of civilian zones and military posts. India responded by striking Pakistan’s strategic air bases, prompting the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) from Pakistan to initiate a peace proposal through direct military channels.
While Pakistan’s delegation is projecting a narrative of restraint and peace in the West, New Delhi remains firm. Indian officials reiterated that “the only discussion possible with Islamabad is on the issues of terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.”
Bilateral ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours remain severely strained, with India signaling zero tolerance for state-sponsored terrorism. Analysts suggest Pakistan’s UK visit is part of a broader diplomatic campaign to ease international pressure and shift the narrative amid growing global sympathy for India following the brutal Pahalgam killings.
The United Nations has so far refrained from making any formal statement, but member states are closely monitoring developments in the region. The Pakistani delegation is expected to hold further meetings in London over the next two days.
