Senior journalist Javed Chaudhry has claimed that the Pakistan People’s Party was deliberately kept out of recent US-Iran backchannel talks in Islamabad after an alleged misstep by party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Speaking on a current affairs program, Chaudhry said that “something went wrong” behind the scenes that led to PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari being “out of the canvas” during what many analysts are calling historic US-Iran dialogue hosted by Pakistan.
ایران امریکہ مذاکرات کے دوران آصف علی زرداری اور پیپلز پارٹی کو کیوں اگنور کیا گیا، جاوید چوہدری وجہ بتا رہے ہیں. pic.twitter.com/huplT1EHgl
— Hussain Ahmed Ch (@HussainAhmedCh8) May 3, 2026
“Inappropriate” remarks cited
According to Chaudhry, he was told by sources that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had made “inappropriate” remarks regarding the US-Iran process. The alleged statement, Chaudhry claimed, was recorded and “circulated in many places,” after which stakeholders in the talks decided to keep PPP away from the sensitive negotiations.
“Those handling the matter said, ‘fine, let’s keep them out’,” Chaudhry stated during the broadcast.
Bilawal’s absence noted
The remarks come as political observers noted Bilawal Bhutto’s complete absence from the media during the period of the reported Islamabad talks. Bilawal, who served as Foreign Minister from 2022 to 2023 and was seen as being groomed on the diplomatic front, was not seen in any official capacity or public engagement related to the US-Iran file.
جمہوریت کا حال دیکھیے، ایوانِ صدر میں اہم مذاکرات جاری ہیں، مگر صدر زرداری کو چھٹی پر بھیج دیا گیا۔ چھٹی ملتے ہی وہ غلام قادر مری کے انتقال پر تعزیت کے لیے ٹنڈو الہٰ یار پہنچ گئے۔
ذرا ساتھ چلنے والے پروٹوکول کی گاڑیوں کی تعداد بھی گن لیجیے pic.twitter.com/kOxzgaLqvp— Abeera Malik PTI (@patriatioclady) April 11, 2026
Zardari in Tando Allahyar
While the talks were reportedly underway in Islamabad, President Asif Ali Zardari opted to travel to Tando Allahyar, a district in Sindh. Chaudhry alleged that the visit was part of PPP’s response after being sidelined, with Zardari initiating his own diplomatic outreach to China.
“Whereas the President can’t even do contracts,” Chaudhry remarked, pointing to the ceremonial nature of the presidential office under Pakistan’s parliamentary system.
No official response yet
Neither the Presidency, PPP, nor the Foreign Office has issued an official statement regarding Chaudhry’s claims or the party’s absence from the US-Iran process. The US and Iranian governments have also not publicly confirmed details of any talks in Islamabad.
