Pakistan After the Floods

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Pakistan has been plagued by economic crisis, political unrest, and now by catastrophic and deadly flooding. 

At 34 years old, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the country’s youngest foreign minister and the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, the second-largest coalition party in the current government. Bhutto Zardari joined FP’s editor in chief, Ravi Agrawal, for a wide-ranging interview to discuss how his government is coping with the disaster and what its plans are to help mitigate the various crises facing the country. The two discussed Bhutto Zardari’s new role, his plans to move the country forward, the future of his coalition government, and much more. 

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on his country’s close friendship with China and how he hopes Pakistan will be a bridge between the United States and China.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari outlines what a debt swap would look like, in order to cover the damages caused by deadly flooding in the country.

Watch how Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari responds when asked if his country is receiving help from India in the face of catastrophic flooding.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari explains why his country’s relationship with the United States is stronger than it was in 2010, despite Washington stepping in back then with much more funding for flood damages.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Pakistan’s foreign minister

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is Pakistan’s foreign minister. He is the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, the second-largest coalition party in the current government. Bhutto Zardari’s mother was Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s former prime minister and the country’s first female leader, who was assassinated in 2007. His father, Asif Ali Zardari, was Pakistan’s president from 2008 until 2013. ​​ 

Ravi Agrawal

Editor in chief, Foreign Policy

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People wade across a flooded street after heavy rainfall in Karachi on July 25. ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images
People wade across a flooded street after heavy rainfall in Karachi on July 25. ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images

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Is the White House prepared to deal with the remarkable growth of artificial intelligence? What are the current and potential risks to Americans? If governments should create rules around th...Show more

People wade across a flooded street after heavy rainfall in Karachi on July 25. ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images
People wade across a flooded street after heavy rainfall in Karachi on July 25. ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images

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The war in Ukraine has propelled the United States and Europe closer on a variety of foreign-policy issues. But do Washington and Brussels agree on how to deal with Beijing’s growing clout...Show more

People wade across a flooded street after heavy rainfall in Karachi on July 25. ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images
People wade across a flooded street after heavy rainfall in Karachi on July 25. ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images

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Over the last few years, the United States has moved to limit China’s technological rise. U.S.-led sanctions have imposed unprecedented limits on Beijing’s access to advanced computing c...Show more