In a highly provocative statement, former Pakistan Finance Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has warned India in strong words, saying “Either our water will flow through the Indus, or their blood will.” The controversial remark comes in response to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, most of them tourists.

Bhutto-Zardari, who is also the grandson of former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, made this incendiary declaration during a public rally in Sukkur, Sindh, a province that greatly depends on Indus waters for irrigation and livelihood. His statement has triggered renewed concerns about rising hostilities between India and Pakistan, especially concerning shared natural resources like water.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, is a historic agreement that governs the distribution of water from the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. Under this treaty, Pakistan gets control over the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—while India controls the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. However, India retains limited rights for agricultural use and hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India recently declared that the IWT would be kept in "abeyance" until Pakistan irrevocably ends its support to cross-border terrorism. The announcement was made just a day after the Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based terror group widely believed to be a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the deadly Pahalgam attack.

Reacting to India’s suspension of the treaty, Pakistan has escalated its diplomatic offensive. It has:

• Threatened to suspend the Simla Agreement, a landmark 1972 peace accord signed between India’s then PM Indira Gandhi and Bhutto-Zardari’s grandfather.

• Declared it may freeze all bilateral ties with India.

• Closed its airspace to Indian airlines.

• Warned that any attempt to divert water allocated to Pakistan under the treaty would be treated as an “act of war.”

Bilawal Bhutto, who previously held the post of Foreign Minister before serving briefly as Finance Minister, stressed during his speech that Pakistanis condemn terrorism, including the one in Pahalgam, but emphasized that they would not tolerate any interference with their water rights.

“We ourselves are victims of terrorism,” he stated. “But let me be clear—the Indus belongs to us. It is the lifeline of our land. We will not allow its flow to be tampered with under any pretext.”

The Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, has reignited tensions along the India-Pakistan Line of Control (LoC). Indian security agencies have since heightened border surveillance, increased intelligence-sharing, and initiated a fresh crackdown on terror modules operating in the Kashmir Valley.

The global community has also taken note of the escalating rhetoric. While India has received support from several Western nations, who view its position against terrorism as justified, Pakistan’s threats are being closely watched, especially by China and the United States, both of whom have strategic interests in the region.

Experts believe that Bhutto-Zardari’s statement, though not representative of the Pakistani government’s official stance, may still inflame public sentiment and influence foreign policy decisions in both countries. As tensions rise, diplomats and conflict-resolution experts warn of the serious humanitarian and geopolitical consequences of any move to militarize water-sharing disputes.

Historical Context of the Indus Waters Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is considered one of the most durable water-sharing agreements in the world, having survived multiple wars and conflicts between India and Pakistan. Signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960, the treaty has often been hailed as a rare instance of cooperation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

However, recent years have seen increasing strain on this arrangement. Several Indian political figures have questioned the fairness of the treaty, especially in the light of Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of terrorism in Indian territory. This includes the Pulwama attack in 2019, the Uri attack in 2016, and now the Pahalgam massacre.

In light of these developments, India has reasserted its right to revise or suspend treaties, especially those jeopardizing national security or civilian safety. The MEA’s recent decision to halt implementation of the IWT is being seen as part of this broader shift.

Pakistan's Threat to Suspend Simla Agreement

The Simla Agreement, signed in 1972 after the Indo-Pak war of 1971, aimed to ensure peaceful resolution of conflicts and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. Bilawal Bhutto’s statement that Pakistan may suspend the Simla Agreement if the IWT is not resumed marks a serious escalation in diplomatic hostility.

If such bilateral treaties begin to unravel, the consequences for South Asian peace and stability could be severe. Several political commentators have warned that water wars may soon replace border skirmishes as the dominant flashpoint between the two countries.

Conclusion

While India maintains that its actions are aimed at curbing terrorism and protecting its citizens, Bilawal Bhutto’s inflammatory rhetoric risks exacerbating an already fragile situation. As geopolitical tension simmers, the fate of millions dependent on the Indus River system hangs in the balance. Unless cooler heads prevail, the region may be heading towards an unprecedented crisis over a resource more vital than oil—water.

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