Bilawal Bhutto’s ‘Muslims demonised in India’ claim falls flat after journalist cites army briefings

Pakistan's former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari faced an unexpected rebuttal during a United Nations press briefing when a journalist challenged his claim that Indian Muslims were being demonised in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Bhutto, part of Pakistan’s delegation to the US, had accused India of politicising the tragedy to target its Muslim population.

However, a journalist in the room pointed out that Muslim officers from the Indian military, including Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, had been leading key press briefings during Operation Sindoor — India’s counter-terror response. This direct contradiction left Bhutto momentarily speechless, and he admitted, “As far as the operations are concerned, you’re absolutely right.”

The comment put a damper on Pakistan’s attempt to shape the international narrative around Kashmir. India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, in response to the Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 civilians, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and POK. The operation drew global attention and intensified diplomatic engagements on both sides.

Currently, both Indian and Pakistani delegations are engaging with international counterparts to present their respective versions of recent regional tensions. But this incident may have undermined Pakistan’s credibility at a crucial moment.