Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply after former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari issued a fresh war threat over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), just days after Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir made alarming nuclear remarks from US soil.
Bilawal’s Provocative Statement
Speaking at the Shah Latif Award ceremony in Sindh, Bhutto accused India of “barbarism” and warned that any attempt to alter the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an act of war.
“Every Pakistani is ready to fight,” Bhutto declared, adding that Pakistan would “reclaim all six rivers” if conflict erupted.
He claimed India’s water projects on the Indus River were an attack on Pakistan’s history, culture, and civilization, particularly targeting Sindh.
“This is a war you will definitely lose,” Bhutto warned India.
Asim Munir’s Nuclear Warning
Just hours earlier, General Asim Munir had addressed the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida, stating:
“We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us,” he said, threatening to destroy Indian infrastructure, especially dams on the Indus River.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded sharply, calling the rhetoric “nuclear blackmail” and reaffirming its commitment to national security.
Background on the Indus Waters Treaty
Signed in 1960, the IWT governs water sharing between India and Pakistan across six rivers: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Despite wars and diplomatic breakdowns, the treaty has largely held. However, India reportedly put the agreement in abeyance following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier stated that India would not restore the treaty, citing national interest.
Regional Fallout
Bhutto’s remarks have drawn international concern, especially given their timing—just after Munir’s nuclear rhetoric. Analysts warn that such statements could destabilize South Asia and undermine diplomatic efforts.
India has dismissed the threats as “stock-in-trade” tactics and emphasized its readiness to defend its water and territorial sovereignty.
