Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday (June 23, 2025) stated his nation will go to war if India denies Islamabad its justifiable share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
India put in abeyance the 1960 settlement quickly after the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist assault that killed 26 individuals. Home Minister Amit Shah final week introduced to by no means restore the historic accord.
Mr. Bhutto’s feedback got here two days after Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry criticised Mr. Shah’s “brazen disregard” for worldwide agreements.
Mr. Bhutto, in a speech in parliament, rejected the Indian determination to droop the settlement and threatened to get Pakistan’s share of water.
“India has two options: share water fairly, or we will deliver water to us from all six rivers,” he stated referring to the six rivers of the Indus basin.
He stated that the IWT was nonetheless in vogue because the settlement can’t be held in abeyance.
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“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 U.N. charter,” he stated.
Mr. Bhutto, who’s head of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), additionally threatened that if India decides to comply with by on the menace, “we will have to wage war again”.
The former Foreign Minister additionally highlighted the significance of talks and cooperation, particularly in counterterrorism efforts.
Also Read | Pahalgam terror assault: India to discover ‘never considered’ choices on Indus Waters Treaty
“If India and Pakistan refuse to talk, and if there is no coordination on terrorism, then violence will only intensify in both countries,” he stated. Mr. Bhutto additionally accused India of “weaponising terrorism for political purposes”.
He claimed that in his diplomatic visits to the U.Ok. and European nations as Foreign Minister, it was evident that India had lobbied arduous to reverse Pakistan’s progress on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) entrance.
“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 claimed.
Also Read | Indus Waters Treaty to be stored in abeyance as Pakistan resorted to cross-border terror: supply
Mr. Bilawal additionally stated that Pakistan succeeded in elevating the difficulty of Kashmir on the world stage and President Donald Trump had spoken in favour of mediation on Kashmir.
Apart from speedy steps resembling placing the IWT in abeyance and stopping all commerce with Pakistan, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, focusing on terrorist infrastructure in territories managed by Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror assault.
The strikes triggered 4 days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the navy actions on May 10.
