Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has warned that the international community has “no Plan B” if ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran fail, cautioning against severe human and economic consequences.
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Speaking in an interview with Sky News, Bilawal said “all eyes” were on the high-stakes talks taking place in Islamabad, describing them as one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements in recent history following a devastating six-week conflict.
“I think the international community doesn’t have a Plan B. Our Plan A needs to achieve a peaceful resolution to this conflict and a more permanent peace,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of a successful outcome.
Bilawal highlighted that the war’s impact extended far beyond the immediate region, affecting people across Pakistan, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. He noted that the toll of the conflict could be measured not only in lives lost but also in the economic burden faced globally.
The talks are being led by US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is expected to head the delegation alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Bilawal described Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement as a significant achievement, noting that Islamabad had worked over the past month to help secure a ceasefire and facilitate dialogue between the two adversaries. However, he acknowledged that a deep trust deficit remains a major challenge.
“But as with diplomatic engagements, confidence-building measures will be needed from both sides to expand the space for dialogue,” he said.
Warning against further escalation, Bilawal stressed that a conflict of such scale was “not an option,” adding that its catastrophic consequences were already evident. He urged all stakeholders to push for a peaceful resolution to avoid a broader regional war.
He also reiterated that Pakistan’s motivation was rooted in its own stability concerns, citing its proximity to Iran and longstanding regional tensions, including with India. “The people of Pakistan can’t afford it. I would argue that people across the world can’t afford it,” he said.
Dismissing speculation about potential Nobel Peace Prize recognition, Bilawal remarked that achieving peace itself would be the ultimate goal for Pakistan and the international community.
