Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has warned that any Indian attempt to obstruct Pakistan’s water supply would leave no option but war. In an interview with DW Urdu, Bilawal asserted that India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) after the Pahalgam attack constitutes an “existential threat” to Pakistan. “Water is our lifeline; we will never compromise on our rightful share,” he stated, framing the issue as a matter of national survival.
India had accused Pakistan of involvement in the IIOJK attack without evidence and retaliated by halting the IWT, revoking visas, and sealing border crossings. Islamabad denied the allegations, expelled Indian diplomats, and offered to cooperate in an impartial investigation. Bilawal, who recently led a parliamentary delegation to counter Indian propaganda in the U.S. and Europe, called New Delhi’s water threat a violation of the UN Charter and accused India of destabilizing Pakistan through covert support for terrorism.
Despite these allegations, Bilawal emphasized Pakistan’s preference for peaceful resolution, stating, “We do not want war.” However, he underscored that water security is non-negotiable, signaling readiness for military confrontation if necessary. The warning follows last month’s Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, where Pakistan retaliated against Indian airstrikes, downing six fighter jets and dozens of drones before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took hold.
The recent clashes claimed 53 Pakistani lives, including military personnel and civilians, per ISPR. As tensions simmer, Bilawal’s stark warning highlights the precarious balance between diplomacy and escalation in South Asia. With the IWT in jeopardy and mutual accusations flying, the region teeters on the edge of another crisis—one where water, not just territory, could become the flashpoint.