Amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, former Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari issued a stark warning in parliament on Monday, declaring that if India refuses to uphold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Pakistan “will have to wage war again” to claim its rightful share of water from all six rivers.

Bhutto’s comments follow India’s recent decision to place the 1960 treaty in abeyance after the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah last week stated that the historic accord, which governs water sharing between the two nations, would never be restored.

Bhutto accused India of weaponising water and attempting to provoke a crisis. “The attack on Sindhu (Indus River) and India’s claim that the IWT has ended is illegal,” he asserted, citing international law and the UN Charter. “India has only two options: agree to the Indus Water Treaty, or Pakistan will wage war.”

He described water as an existential issue and a “red line” for Pakistan, saying, “We are the true custodians of the Indus civilisation, and we will defend it.”

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Accusations Of Political Weaponisation

Bhutto also accused India of exploiting terrorism and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to apply political pressure. “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 using false narratives,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of dialogue between the two countries, particularly on counterterrorism cooperation. “If India and Pakistan refuse to talk, and if there is no coordination on terrorism, then violence will only intensify in both countries,” he warned.

Diplomatic Fallout

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry echoed Bhutto’s sentiments, calling India’s actions a “brazen violation of international law” and warning that suspending the IWT sets a “dangerous precedent.” The ministry is reportedly considering legal action, though global powers have so far remained silent.

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Bhutto cited international support for Pakistan’s stance, noting that even US President Donald Trump had offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue, another key source of India-Pakistan tensions.