'Share water fairly or...': Bilawal Bhutto issue threat to India over Indus Water Treaty suspension
PTC News Desk: Pakistan's former minister Bilawal Bhutto on Monday threatened that Pakistan would go to war if India denies Islamabad its share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Speaking in parliament, Bilawal rejected India’s move and threatened retaliation over what he called an illegal suspension of the treaty.
“India has two options: share water fairly, or we will deliver water to us from all six rivers,” he said, referring to the six rivers of the Indus basin. He further added, “The attack on Sindhu (Indus River) and India’s claim that the Indus Water Treaty has ended, and it’s in abeyance. Firstly, this is illegal, as the IWT is not in abeyance, it is binding on Pakistan and India, but the threat of stopping water is illegal according to the UN charter.”
Bilawal Bhutto's remarks come days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that India under no circumstances would restore Water Treaty which New Delhi had put into abeyance following deadly Pahalgam terror attacks on April 22.
His statement followed a sharp reaction from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, which two days earlier had slammed Shah’s declaration as a “brazen disregard” for international agreements.
Meanwhile Bhutto also emphasised dialogue and cooperation and said, “If India and Pakistan refuse to talk, and if there is no coordination on terrorism, then violence will only intensify in both countries,” he said.
- With inputs from agencies
