Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has recently issued a series of aggressive statements directed at India, warning of possible war if India proceeds with building dams on the Indus River system. Bhutto accused the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of launching a “historic attack” on the Indus River, which he described as not only a vital water source but also a symbol of Pakistan’s heritage and civilization. In his speeches, Bhutto claimed that India’s hydroelectric projects on the river represent an attack on Pakistan’s history and identity, dramatically escalating the dispute over the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty.

Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack in India in April 2025, which killed 26 people, India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism. This suspension has further intensified tensions between the two countries. Bilawal Bhutto strongly condemned India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty, calling it illegal and a violation of the UN Charter. He emphasized that the Indus River belongs to Pakistan and warned that if India continues to block Pakistan’s water share, it would lead to war. Addressing supporters in Pakistan’s Sindh province at a rally, Bhutto said, “Either our water will flow in the Indus or their (Indians’) blood will,” using highly charged rhetoric to underline his stance.

Bhutto also accused India of weaponizing water resources against Pakistan and indicated that Pakistan’s army was prepared to respond to any Indian provocations. He argued that India’s larger population does not entitle it to decide the ownership or use of the Indus waters unilaterally. Despite his belligerent statements, Bhutto portrayed Pakistan as restrained and committed to peace through dialogue and diplomacy. However, he expressed frustration over India’s refusal to engage in talks addressing Kashmir, terrorism, and water disputes, worsening the diplomatic impasse.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the sharing of water from six rivers shared by India and Pakistan. India’s suspension of the treaty and plans to build dams on the western rivers have raised fears in Pakistan of water shortages, as more than 80% of its irrigation relies on these waters. Bilawal Bhutto, claiming custodianship over the Indus Valley civilization's heritage sites like Mohenjo Daro, positioned Pakistan as the legitimate protector of the river system. His threats and accusations set a highly combustible tone in an already fragile India-Pakistan relationship, signaling a potential escalation that could jeopardize regional peace.