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Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari became the 37th Foreign Minister of the country and he also had the honour of becoming the youngest Foreign Minister in the history of the country.
Bilawal was sworn in at the age of 33 years, seven months, and six days and became the youngest Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was 35 years old when he was sworn in as Foreign Minister, while Hina Rabbani Khar was 33 years, 8 months, and one day old.
When did Bilawal’s political career begin?
On April 4, 2014, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Bilawal was brought into the arena of politics in Naudero. On that day, Bilawal delivered a scathing speech and sharply criticized Nawaz Sharif’s government for negotiating with the Taliban.
Then on October 18, Bilawal addressed a long rally in Karachi. At that time, to bring them into the political arena was to make the PPP a significant success in the next elections, especially to activate the PPP in Punjab. Later in 2018, Bilawal became a member of the National Assembly.
Pakistan’s youngest foreign minister
After the success of the no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Shahbaz Sharif was elected as the Prime Minister, after which the people of all the political parties involved in the no-confidence motion were given one or the other post.
Yesterday, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto was sworn in as Foreign Minister in Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet. A swearing-in ceremony was held at the President’s House in Islamabad in which President Arif Alvi administered the oath to the Chairman PPP.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s swearing-in ceremony was attended by President PPP Parliamentarians Asif Ali Zardari and Asifa Bhutto Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and Benazir Bhutto’s sister Sanam Bhutto.
What challenges will the newly elected Foreign Minister face?
At present, the situation regarding Pakistan’s foreign policy is very bad, relations between Pakistan and the United States are cold. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s biggest challenge will be how he improves these relations.
Experts said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s point of view regarding Modi government has been very strict. In this regard, it will be a challenge for them to be flexible in their attitude and assess the nature of their relationship with India.
The rule of the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan had the full support of the previous government of Pakistan.
According to experts, the issue of diplomatic relations between Russia and Pakistan has also been under discussion in recent times. Will the relationship move forward or not? The young foreign minister may also face problems on this issue.
Will Bilawal Bhutto be able to overcome external challenges?
According to experts, the only qualification of the newly elected Prime Minister is that he is the son of Benazir Bhutto, otherwise, he has no experience for the post and has not taken any courses.
While experts also think that although Bilawal Bhutto Zardari does not have any practical experience in running the ministry, with the help of Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar, he will have the experience of running the ministry which he has already run alone.
The newly elected Foreign Minister, of course, studied in Western schools, but he is well aware of the problems that Pakistan faces on the diplomatic front.
According to experts, the West sees him as the son of Benazir Bhutto who was martyred as a result of terrorism, so one can expect a good welcome for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the western capitals.
According to experts, Bilawal Bhutto will be the second political heavyweight in the history of Pakistan after his grandfather held the post of Foreign Minister. Traditionally, the Bhutto family has been known for its close ties with China, the Gulf countries, and the Muslim world, but Benazir Bhutto is well-received in the western capitals.
Conclusion
The newly elected Foreign Minister may have learned a lot from the diplomatic achievements of his grandfather and former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, but the question is, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was Foreign Minister in the cabinet of a military chief, while Bilawal was such a government. If Bilawal is the Prime Minister of Pakistan, then will Bilawal be able to do something on the diplomatic front or not? And will the shortcomings of the basic diplomatic policy set by the Establishment make their path easier or harder? It would be premature to say anything about it.
