Islamabad: A fierce diplomatic storm is brewing between India and Pakistan following a fiery declaration from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. In a striking address to Pakistan’s National Assembly, Bhutto accused India of weaponizing water and abandoning international law by unilaterally halting its commitments under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). His sharp message: “Either give us our water or prepare for war.”
The speech comes in the wake of India’s official withdrawal from cooperation under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a move that followed the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir, which Indian authorities have linked to Pakistan-backed elements. In response to the assault that killed over 40 civilians, India announced a total cessation of engagement with Pakistan under the treaty framework, calling Pakistan’s continued access to river waters “unjust and unreciprocated.”
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah further declared that the water-sharing arrangement was “a favor, not an obligation,” and said India has a right to fully utilize water from the western rivers that pass through its territory before flowing into Pakistan. India has begun exploring internal diversion and damming strategies to reduce downstream flow to Pakistan measures that Islamabad has described as “provocative” and “tantamount to a declaration of war.”
In his address, Bilawal Bhutto did not mince words. He warned that Pakistan would consider India’s actions a hostile breach of international norms and a direct threat to its sovereignty. “You cannot unilaterally rip up a treaty that has ensured peace for over six decades. Water is our lifeline. If you try to steal it, we will reclaim it from all six rivers, if necessary,” he said, triggering a standing ovation from opposition and treasury benches alike.
He further warned that India’s withdrawal could violate international law and the UN Charter. “Any attempt to choke our rivers is an act of war,” Bhutto stated. “If you want to fight, we have fought before and we are not afraid to do so again.” His words reflect growing frustration in Pakistan over India’s hardened stance, with little space for diplomacy amid escalating rhetoric.
Bhutto also accused New Delhi of exploiting the Pahalgam incident as a pretext to isolate Pakistan globally. “They are trying to label us through FATF pressure, trying to corner us in the international arena, but Pakistan will not be bullied,” he claimed. “Instead of using terrorism as an excuse, India should engage in dialogue, because dialogue is the only path to regional stability.”
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has withstood multiple wars and political standoffs. It allocates control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) to India, and the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) to Pakistan. However, India retains limited rights to use western river waters for non-consumptive needs, such as hydropower. Recent Indian statements suggest a reinterpretation of those clauses in India’s favor, further deepening distrust.
Experts warn that the current confrontation is more perilous than any in recent memory. With both countries armed with nuclear weapons, even symbolic threats over water carry grave implications. Former diplomats and water policy analysts have stressed the urgency of neutral third-party mediation, fearing the region may sleepwalk into an unthinkable conflict over river rights.
As Islamabad sharpens its diplomatic weapons and New Delhi reinforces its nationalistic narrative, South Asia’s most durable water treaty stands on the verge of collapse. And with Bhutto’s threat “give water or face war” echoing through both capitals, the next move from either side could determine whether the subcontinent moves toward negotiation or the brink of confrontation.