WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a stern message to a high-level Pakistani delegation, US Congressman Brad Sherman urged Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former Pakistani foreign minister and current head of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), to take strong action against Jaish-e-Mohammed and ensure the protection of religious minorities in Pakistan.
Sherman, a senior Democratic lawmaker, met the delegation in Washington on Thursday, during their ongoing diplomatic visit to the United States. The visit notably coincided with the presence of an Indian multi-party parliamentary team led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is briefing US officials on Operation Sindoor and India’s counter-terror strategy following the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Key Highlights from the Meeting:
- Jaish-e-Mohammed Must Be Eliminated:
Sherman took to social media platform X to emphasize that he had urged the Pakistani side to confront terrorism directly, naming Jaish-e-Mohammed—the group responsible for the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl, who was Sherman’s constituent.
“Pakistan should do all it can to eliminate this vile group and combat terrorism in the region,” Sherman posted, adding that Pearl’s family still lives in his district.
- Call to Release Dr. Shakil Afridi:
Sherman also demanded the release of Dr. Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani physician who aided the CIA in locating Osama bin Laden in 2011. Afridi has been imprisoned in Pakistan since then, sentenced to 33 years in jail.
“Freeing Dr. Afridi represents an important step in bringing closure for victims of 9/11,” Sherman said.
- Concern for Religious Minorities:
Sherman expressed deep concern about the treatment of Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan, stating they must be allowed to “practice their faith and participate in the democratic system without fear of violence, persecution, discrimination, or an unequal justice system.”
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Push vs US Priorities
While Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s delegation has engaged with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN Security Council ambassadors, reportedly to revive the Kashmir issue on the international agenda, US lawmakers have steered discussions towards Pakistan’s internal challenges—especially terrorism and human rights.
This interaction underscores a growing divergence between Islamabad’s foreign policy narrative and Washington’s security expectations, especially as US-India counter-terror coordination gains momentum.
Meanwhile, Tharoor’s team has been actively updating American officials on India’s Operation Sindoor, which struck at terror infrastructure and was launched following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed multiple lives.
As diplomatic dialogues continue, it is clear that US lawmakers are prioritizing accountability from Pakistan on terrorism—particularly groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed—and insisting on concrete reforms for minority rights and justice as preconditions for deeper engagement.