‘Have strength to confront Modi in event of war’: Bilawal Bhutto warns India over Indus Waters Treaty

Karachi: Raising a fresh war cry against India, former Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday warned of military conflict if New Delhi moves ahead with changes to the Indus Waters Treaty.

Speaking at an event organised by the Sindh government’s culture department, Bilawal declared that any diversion of the Indus River’s water away from Pakistan would be “an attack on our history, our culture and our civilisation.”

“If Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces an attack on Indus, he attacks our history, our culture and our civilisation,” Bilawal was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

India suspended the 1960 agreement after the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people.  

Interestingly, Bilawal’s remark came barely a day after the Pakistan army chief issued a warning to India. He allegedly threatened that if Pakistan "goes down, it would take half the world down" with it. The comments were reportedly made during a meeting in Tampa, Florida, with US military officials.

Bilawal accused Modi of using a proposed water project on the Indus as a warning that Pakistan’s water supply could be restricted. He said he had raised the matter abroad to highlight what he described as India’s “aggressive water policy,” claiming it was retaliation for a setback India faced in a military clash in May.

He added that “the people of Sindh have always stepped forward to defend the Indus whenever they felt it was under threat… The people of Pakistan have the strength to confront Modi in the event of war.” Another war, he said, could see Pakistan “reclaiming all six of its rivers.”