Pakistan's Bilawal Bhutto Warns of Potential War with India Over Indus Waters Treaty After Army Chief's Nuclear Comments

A day following Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir's renewed nuclear threat towards India, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the former foreign minister and chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, cautioned that any attempt by New Delhi to amend the Indus Waters Treaty could lead to conflict.

During an event organized by the Sindh government's culture department, Bhutto expressed that redirecting the Indus River's flow away from Pakistan would be an assault on the nation's heritage, particularly impacting Sindh. He criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that any initiative against the Indus amounts to an attack on Pakistan’s history, culture, and civilization. Bhutto attributed India's recent water policy to a reaction following a military defeat earlier this year.

India suspended the 1960 treaty shortly after the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 casualties. Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the agreement would not be reinstated. Bhutto accused Modi of using a water project announcement on the Indus as a threat to Pakistan's water supply and declared that Pakistanis are prepared to confront Modi if a war arises, even suggesting the potential reclamation of all six rivers.

Bhutto’s comments came in the wake of Munir's statement in Tampa, Florida, where the Pakistani army chief threatened to destroy any Indian dam obstructing water flows, asserting Pakistan's nuclear capabilities with the remark, "We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we will take half the world down with us."

India’s Ministry of External Affairs sharply rebutted Munir’s threats, labeling them as "nuclear sabre-rattling" and accusing Pakistan’s military of collaborating with terrorist groups. The ministry declared that New Delhi would not bow to nuclear intimidation and would take all necessary actions to protect its national security, expressing regret that such statements were made in a "friendly third country."

Bhutto’s recent warnings echo similar statements he made in June, where he told Pakistan’s parliament that the country would engage in warfare if denied its "fair share" of water under the treaty.