WASHINGTON: The Uni­ted States and other world powers are looking for a scapegoat to blame for “their failures and weaknesses” in Afghanistan, and Pakistan appears to be obliging them, says PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

At a Friday night news conference in Washington, Mr Bhutto-Zardari urged Pakistani politicians to leave aside their rona dhona (grievances) and work together to undo “the conspiracy” to blame Pakistan for the mistakes it did not commit.

“To hide their failures and weakness, they are looking for a scapegoat and Pakistan is happily falling into that position,” warned the young PPP leader who was in Washington to attend the US annual prayer National Breakfast.

Earlier this week, Mr Bhutto-Zardari addressed the international luncheon of this international event, which brings dignitaries from across the world, including the US president. This was the 10th anniversary of Benazir Bhutto’s address to a similar gathering and the organisers showed clippings of her speech before Mr Bhutto-Zardari spoke.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2018