Did Asaduddin Owaisi Call Bilawal Bhutto’s Statement ‘Foolish’?

Synopsis
In a recent press conference, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized Bilawal Bhutto for his call for intelligence collaboration between India and Pakistan. Owaisi's remarks raise critical questions about the realities of past interactions and the implications for South Asian security.
Key Takeaways
- Owaisi criticized Bilawal's call for cooperation.
- Historical terrorism events were highlighted.
- Introspection was urged from Bhutto.
- Owaisi questioned US involvement in peace talks.
- Dialogue was seen as ineffective post-terror attacks.
Hyderabad, June 4 (NationPress) AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has labeled the statement made by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at the United Nations as ‘foolish’. Bhutto-Zardari advocated for collaboration between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and India, an assertion that Owaisi vehemently opposes.
In a media interaction on Wednesday, Owaisi reminded Bhutto-Zardari of the aftermath of discussions held between the two nations' agencies post the 26/11 and Pathankot attacks.
Bilawal Bhutto, leading a significant delegation to the US to garner support following recent tensions with India, stated during a press conference that such cooperation could markedly decrease terrorism in South Asia.
“What transpired following 26/11 and Pathankot? You have rewarded and protected terrorists and allowed Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to father a child while incarcerated,” Owaisi remarked.
He also recalled that Bhutto-Zardari's mother, Benazir Bhutto, was a victim of terrorism herself.
“The same UN where he spoke dispatched a team of diplomats to Pakistan for an investigation, which concluded that Pakistan's inquiry into her assassination was inadequate,” he added.
“Engage in some self-reflection. You remain ignorant of the organization that murdered your mother, yet you direct accusations towards India. That’s foolish,” he stated.
Regarding the ceasefire with Pakistan, Owaisi remarked that Pakistan's Director General Military Operations (DGMO) communicated with India's DGMO. “Our DGMO would have proceeded after discussions with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister should have informed the country that the Pakistani DGMO reached out, and we are ceasing fire. Instead, it was US President Donald Trump who conveyed this information. Who is he to dictate terms?”
Owaisi, who participated in a delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda to several Gulf countries, asserted that they aimed to present India’s stance and its security concerns regarding terrorism from Pakistan.
He mentioned that the delegation informed leaders that the Pahalgam attack was executed by terrorists originating from Pakistan.
Owaisi also noted that they alerted those leaders that the Resistance Front (TRF), responsible for the Pahalgam attack, is a rebranded name for LeT, and India had approached the UN Sanctions Committee in December 2023 and May and June 2024 to classify it as a terrorist entity.
Furthermore, two of the four emails claiming responsibility for the Pahalgam attack were traced back to areas close to Pakistan's military cantonment board.
“Some leaders inquired why dialogue isn't pursued. We explained that we engaged in talks post 26/11, but to no avail,” he said.
Owaisi concluded that after the Pathankot incident, the Modi government made a grave error by inviting ISI, resulting in no productive outcome.