Islamabad: Former Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari issued a stern warning on Monday, stating that Pakistan would be forced to go to war if India denies Islamabad its rightful share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
“India has two options: share water fairly, or we will deliver water to us from all six rivers,” Bhutto declared during a fiery speech in Pakistan’s Parliament, referring to the rivers of the Indus basin.
His remarks come in the wake of India’s decision to put the 1960 agreement in abeyance following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead. Last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that India would not reinstate the historic water-sharing accord.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry had earlier condemned Shah’s announcement, calling it a “brazen disregard” for international obligations.
“Threatening to Stop Water Is Illegal”: Bilawal
Rejecting India’s stance, Bilawal argued that the Indus Waters Treaty is still legally binding and cannot be suspended unilaterally.
“The attack on Sindhu (Indus River) and India’s claim that the IWT has ended and it’s in abeyance. Firstly, this is illegal, as the IWT is not in abeyance, it is binding on Pakistan and India, but the threat itself of stopping water is illegal according to the UN charter,” he said.
He further warned that if India proceeds to block Pakistan’s water, it could trigger armed conflict.
“We will have to wage war again,” the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader asserted.
Bilawal Calls for Talks Amid Terrorism Accusations
Despite his warning, Bilawal also emphasized the need for dialogue and coordination, especially to combat terrorism.
“If India and Pakistan refuse to talk, and if there is no coordination on terrorism, then violence will only intensify in both countries,” he said.
He accused India of “weaponising terrorism for political purposes,” and claimed that India lobbied aggressively to hinder Pakistan’s removal from the FATF grey list during his tenure as foreign minister.
“At a time when Pakistan had successfully moved from the FATF grey list to the white list, India made every effort to drag us back to the grey list using false narratives and diplomatic pressure,” he alleged.
Bilawal on Kashmir and Trump’s Mediation Offer
Bhutto-Zardari also reiterated Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, claiming international traction for the issue.
“Pakistan succeeded in raising the issue of Kashmir on the world stage and President Donald Trump had spoken in favour of mediation on Kashmir,” he said.
Background: Operation Sindoor and Rising Tensions
India’s decision to suspend the treaty was part of a larger strategy following the Pahalgam attack. The Indian military launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist bases in Pakistan-controlled territories. The strikes led to four days of intense cross-border clashes, which ended on May 10 after a mutual understanding to cease military actions.
India also cut off trade with Pakistan and reinforced diplomatic isolation efforts after the terror incident.