WEBDESK: Former Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has issued a serious warning to India, stating that New Delhi must respect the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) or be ready to face war.
Speaking in the National Assembly during a session on the federal budget, Bilawal declared that India had two options: either share water fairly or Pakistan would take what is rightfully theirs from all six rivers.
Bilawal’s remarks came after India unilaterally suspended its participation in the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, shortly after 26 civilians were killed in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Without any evidence, India blamed Pakistan for the attack an allegation Islamabad firmly denied while calling for an independent investigation.
Despite a ceasefire agreed upon by the two nuclear-armed neighbours last month after their worst fighting in decades, the water accord remains suspended.
The Pakistani Foreign Office had already condemned Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s “brazen disregard” for international agreements, after his statement that New Delhi would never restore the treaty with Pakistan.
War Will Be Inevitable If India Moves Against Pakistan’s Water, Bilawal Bhutto
Addressing lawmakers, Bilawal Bhutto said: “The attack on the Sindhu [Indus River] and India’s claim that the IWT has ended is illegal. The threat of stopping water is a violation of the UN Charter. If India acts on this threat, we will be forced into another war.”
He made it clear that although Pakistan hoped for peace, it was fully capable of defeating India again, just as it had in the past.
Modi’s Dangerous War Doctrine Criticised
Bilawal accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using terrorism as a pretext for escalating hostilities against Pakistan. He warned that if both nations refused to engage in dialogue and counter-terror cooperation, violence would only escalate.
He questioned India’s double standards: “We suffer from terrorist attacks ten times more than India, many of them traced back to Indian funding and involvement. Should we then retaliate automatically too? That would mean surrendering our future to terrorists.”
Diplomatic Victories for Pakistan
Bilawal highlighted that during his tenure as foreign minister, India had aggressively lobbied in the United Kingdom and European Union to reverse Pakistan’s progress on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) front. But thanks to the efforts of Pakistan’s foreign office and government, India’s attempts to push Pakistan back onto the FATF grey list failed.
He stated: “Once again, Pakistan won and India lost.”
Renewed Call for Dialogue and Regional Peace
Bilawal stressed that Pakistan is fighting for peace not only for its own people but also for the people of India. He noted that peace in the region would benefit both nations.
He reiterated that Pakistan’s position on Kashmir had gained international attention, with the issue no longer viewed as an internal matter of India. He claimed that Pakistan’s diplomatic narrative had prevailed across global forums and media.
Condemnation of Israel’s Attack on Iran
Bilawal also condemned Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, describing it as a violation of Iranian sovereignty. He warned that any fallout would have serious consequences for the entire region, particularly Pakistan.
He criticised Israel for fabricating claims, just as it had done with Iraq, and warned that if the world remained silent now, no one would be left to speak when aggressors turned their attention towards Pakistan.
