Rattled by the Narendra Modi government’s tough stance on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Pakistan has once again begun spewing out war rhetoric against India, with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari threatening that Islamabad will fight on “every front” to protect the treaty.
What did Bilawal Bhutto say about Indus Water Treaty?
Addressing a public gathering, Bilawal Bhutto said Pakistan is “ready of war”, and accused India of weaponizing the Indus waters. The former Pakistan foreign minister said Pakistan will not tolerate attempts to break the treaty and will do everything needed to protect its water rights.
“Pakistan is ready for war. We will never compromise on our rights over the Indus River. We will respond to any attempt to weaponize the river’s waters,” Bhutto said.
Earlier, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty due to Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism. Jaiswal said the treated would remain under abeyance till Pakistan stops sponsoring terrorism and that India had no intention of restoring it.
Why India suspended IWT?
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which governs the sharing of river waters between India and Pakistan, was suspended by the Indian government after the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Kashmir Valley.
Since the suspension of the 1960 treaty, India has repeatedly stated it will not be restored unless and until Pakistan halts support to terrorist groups and addresses India’s terrorism concerns.
Pakistan rattled by IWT suspension
Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership has made repeated threats to India over the Indus Water Treaty dispute, including Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and more recently, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who claimed that India could not legally suspend treaty because it is a bilateral agreement that cannot be terminated unilaterally.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari, has been among the most vocal in the Shehbaz Sharif government, often threatening war against India if the IWT was not restored.
Earlier, Bhutto had threatened that “blood will be shed” if India stopped the flow of water to Pakistan.
First published on: Jul 07, 2026 06:45 PM IST
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