While Pakistan's Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led delegation claimed to be 'victims of terrorism' on US soil, American lawmakers asked their Pakistani counterparts to act against the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed and protect religious minorities in the country.
A Pakistani delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto reached the US this week to counter India's major global outreach to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. While the Bhutto-led delegation claimed themselves to be "victims of terrorism" and India's "aggression", American lawmakers asked them to "eliminate vile terrorist group" JeM, which reportedly has bases in Pakistan.
The Pakistani delegation met with the US House foreign policy panel recently to counter India's narrative and to urge further intervention by the US to resolve India-Pakistan tensions. US Congressman Brad Sherman, who met with the Pakistani delegation, said he "emphasized the importance of combatting terrorism" to them.
"I emphasized to the Pakistani delegation the importance of combatting terrorism, and in particular, the group Jaish-e-Mohammed, who murdered my constituent Daniel Pearl in 2002. Pakistan should do all it can to eliminate this vile group and combat terrorism in the region," Sherman tweeted. He added that Pakistani leaders were also urged to take steps to release Dr Shakil Afridi, who helped the US to eliminate Osama Bin Laden.
"I urged the Pakistani delegation to relay to their government the need to free Dr Shakil Afridi, who continues to languish in prison for helping the United States kill Osama Bin Laden. Freeing Dr. Afridi represents an important step in bringing closure for victims of 9/11," Sherman added.
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Sherman said protection of religious minorities in Pakistan was also raised during the meeting and Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadiyya Muslims living in Pakistan "must be allowed to practice their faith and participate in the democratic system without fear of violence, persecution, discrimination, or an unequal justice system".
A team led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor visited the US recently and exposed how Pakistan sponsored terror activities against India. India launched a global outreach programme in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 persons were killed. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and conducted targeted strikes on terror bases in Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated and after days of heightened military operation, both nations agreed to ceasefire on May 10.