Bilawal Calls India’s Indus Treaty Suspension as Attack on Civilization

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has fiercely criticized India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it an assault on the Indus Valley Civilization and Pakistan’s cultural heritage.

Speaking on August 11, 2025, at the closing ceremony of a three-day festival honoring Sindhi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai in Bhit Shah, Sindh, the former foreign minister warned that any aggression against the Indus River would be met with staunch resistance from Pakistan’s people. His remarks, delivered to a large gathering, underscored the river’s critical role as Pakistan’s primary water source and a symbol of its historical identity.

India’s suspension of the IWT, announced on April 23, 2025, followed the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. The move, one of several punitive measures against Pakistan, has escalated tensions, with India citing national security and accusing Pakistan of supporting terrorism.

The 1960 treaty, brokered by the World Bank, allocates the waters of the Indus River system, giving India control over the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi) and Pakistan rights to the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab), with limited Indian usage for irrigation and hydropower. Bilawal argued that India’s decision threatens the livelihoods of 200 million Pakistanis dependent on the Indus, which sustains 90% of the country’s agriculture and supports 65% of its population along its basin.

“The Indus River is not just a resource; it’s our history, our civilization,” Bilawal declared, linking the river to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, a cultural cornerstone for Pakistan. He accused the Modi government of endangering this legacy, stating, “An attack on the Indus is an attack on our culture and identity.” Vowing Pakistan’s readiness to confront any aggression, he said, “From the land of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, we send a message: we do not retreat, we do not bow down.” He emphasized Pakistan’s desire for peace but warned that if India “dares to wage war” or disrupt the Indus, the people of all provinces would unite to resist, even hinting at reclaiming control over the six rivers.

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Bilawal highlighted his diplomatic efforts as foreign minister (2022–2023), claiming he raised Pakistan’s concerns globally about threats to its water security. Posts on X reflect polarized reactions: some Pakistani users praised Bilawal’s defiance, calling the IWT suspension a “water war,” while others criticized his rhetoric as escalatory, fearing it could derail fragile regional stability. Indian officials, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, have defended the suspension, arguing that Pakistan’s alleged role in the Pahalgam attack justified unilateral action, though they insist India will adhere to treaty clauses allowing dam construction on western rivers.

The dispute has drawn international concern, with the World Bank urging dialogue and the U.S. calling for restraint. Experts warn that disrupting the Indus could devastate Pakistan’s economy, where agriculture accounts for 24% of GDP, and exacerbate food insecurity, with 43% of Pakistanis already facing moderate to severe food shortages, per a 2024 UN report.

Pakistan’s reliance on the Indus for 80% of its irrigation makes the river a lifeline, and any escalation risks humanitarian and ecological disaster. As Bilawal rallies public sentiment, the standoff underscores the delicate balance between national pride, resource security, and regional peace.

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