India initiates foundational steps for nuclear dispute concerning marine waters: Bilawal
KARACHI CHAT:
PPP's Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari raises alarm over India's nuclear war threats over water
In a heated speech at the Middle East Institute, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari fired a warning shot across the bow, accusing India of provoking the first-ever nuclear war over water due to its actions regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.
India's recent move to suspend the IWT follows a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. This decision, Bilawal argued, sets a dangerous precedent, laying the foundation for a water war, a concept once considered theoretical, but now a looming possibility.
Pakistan is gearing up to present its case on this issue to the United States, European Union, and other global powers, aiming to counter India's growing influence in the region. The delegation led by Bilawal includes former foreign ministers Hina Rabbani Khar and Khurram Dastgir, Senators Sherry Rehman, Musadik Malik, Faisal Sabzwari, and Bushra Anjum Butt, along with senior envoys Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua.
Addressing the gathering, Bilawal asserted, "India shutting off Pakistan's water supply is laying the foundations for the first nuclear water war. We have said that cutting off our water supply would be an act of war. Every country on the planet would fight for their survival and fight for their water."
He urged the United States and other nations to pressure India to adhere to the IWT and avoid actions that potentially violate the treaty. "If India is allowed to cut off our water, that means that every upper riparian with hostilities to a lower riparian now has a carte blanche. We'll fight the first war, but it won't be the last," he warned.
Bilawal emphasized Pakistan's desire for peace but expressed dismay at India's refusal to cooperate on terrorism, US President Donald Trump's mediation attempts, and more dialogues. "If our dialogue and diplomacy in pursuit of peace are to be successful, the old treaties must be respected first," he stated.
The Indus Waters Treaty, a 65-year-old agreement, has been a contentious issue between India and Pakistan, with India's recent actions creating a legal grey area. However, the stakes have never been higher, as water scarcity becomes a pressing issue in the age of climate change.
References:
- "India suspends Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan after terror attack," Al Jazeera, 2025
- "Pakistan facing water crisis due to India suspension of Indus Waters Treaty," Dawn, 2025
- "Indus Waters Treaty: India halts water sharing with Pakistan amid ties heats up," BBC, 2025
- "Pakistan: World Bank should mediate over Indus Waters Treaty dispute with India," The News International, 2025
- "The Indus Waters Treaty: A Strategic Overview," Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, 2019
- The political tensions between India and Pakistan over the Indus Waters Treaty have escalated, with the possibility of war and conflicts looming due to India's actions and Pakistan's concerns about water scarcity, as highlighted in the general news.
- The ongoing conflict over the Indus Waters Treaty, a contentious issue for decades, has now become a significant topic in global politics, as both India and Pakistan present their cases to influential nations, aiming to maintain or challenge the existing power dynamics.
