Former Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto has issued a fresh round of threats against India on Monday, warning of war if New Delhi continues with changes to the Indus Water Treaty.
While speaking
at a function organised by the Culture Department of the Government of Sindh on Monday, Bhutto claimed India had attacked Pakistan and accused India of “barbarism” over the issue. He told supporters that “every Pakistani is ready to fight a war” and boasted that Pakistan’s armed forces had delivered a “historic reply” to India.
“So, if you think of carrying out an attack like Sindoor, then know that the people of every province of Pakistan are ready to fight you — and this is a war that you will definitely lose,” he reportedly said.
He went on to say that “you people are strong enough for war to get back all six rivers,” vowing that Pakistan “will never bow down”.
Bhutto’s warning came a day after Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir threatened to start a nuclear war and went on a brazen anti-India rant at an event in the US state of Florida.
Munir said that Islamabad would be prepared to plunge the region into nuclear war and “take almost half of the world” down if the country faced an existential threat in a future conflict with New Delhi.
“We are a nuclear nation; if we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us,” Munir reportedly said at a black-tie event hosted for him in Florida’s Tampa during his second visit to the US in two months.
He further raked up the Indus Waters Treaty issue, which has been kept in “abeyance” by New Delhi after the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack, saying India’s decision could put 250 million people at risk of starvation.
New Delhi responded with sharp condemnation, calling Pakistan’s nuclear threats “stock-in-trade” and questioning the integrity of Pakistan’s nuclear command and control. Indian officials pointed out that the Pakistani military operates “hand-in-glove” with terrorist groups, making the region’s nuclear stability dangerously precarious.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, “India will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard national security.”
On several occasions, Bhutto has blamed India without any evidence for the recent tensions in the region in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and has also threatened India for keeping the IWT in abeyance.
After the Pahalgam attack, the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan downgraded with New Delhi announcing several punitive measures, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength and expulsion of its military attaches.
India and Pakistan exchanged cross-border hostilities for four days after the former launched Operation Sindoor against terror camps in the neighbouring country. New Delhi struck several air bases and dealt a crushing blow to Islamabad Army’s capabilities, while also effectively repelling missile and drone attacks.
