ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has once again invited India to join Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism, saying that the fight is not Pakistan’s private quarrel, rather a “civilisational self-defence of humanity”.

“Pakistan is ready to forge a historic, phenomenal partnership with India to jointly combat terror. Not as adversaries playing a zero-sum game, but as neighbours who share a moral and civilisational obligation to save a billion souls from the plague of extremism,” he said at an international conference, held here on Wednesday.

“All it requires is from India’s leadership is to step down from the high horse heading in the abyss and pursue peace with Paki­stan,” Mr Bhutto-Zardari told the audience at ‘Pakis­tan Fighting War for the World against Terrorism’, organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).

“Terrorism is borderless. The fight we wage is not Pakistan’s private quarrel. It is civilisational self-defence on behalf of all humanity. When the Tehreek-i-Taliban or the Majeed Brigade tweets its manifesto, the algorithm that amplifies it does not stop at the Durand Line. It ricochets through Paris, Perth, and beyond. If we stand down, who will stand up”.

He recounted the great human sacrifices offered by Pakistan besides suffering staggering economic losses.

“Just last year, 2024, was our deadliest in a decade. At least 685 of our service members embraced martyrdom in 444 separate attacks. 1,612 Pakistanis — teachers, traders, traffic wardens — never returned home,” he added.

The PPP chairman noted that across two decades, Pakistan’s armed forces, backed by an iron-willed citizenry, have broken the back of Al Qaeda networks, dismantled so-called caliphates like Daesh, and driven the TTP from fortresses to foxholes.

He highlighted the regional hegemonic designs of certain countries that view terror as a tactic to destabilise Pakistan through use of their proxies. “The best antidote to terrorism according to him is fidelity to international law, an inclusive polity, an equitable social order and economic justice,” he added.

“We must craft a curriculum where Saadi walks beside Bulleh Shah, where the [Holy] Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Charter of Madina is studied as the first social contract, where Jinnah’s August 11 speech is memorised before breakfast. We must reclaim the microphone from those who preach division — and hand it to the scientist who codes solutions,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2025