Fiery rhetoric over Indus water rights: Bilawal Bhutto warns India of 'blood' if treaty ends

Heightened tensions now grip the relationship between India and Pakistan following India's move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of a deadly terrorist incident in Pahalgam. Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto has issued a strong condemnation, asserting, "The Indus belongs to us and will continue to do so – either its water will flow, or their blood will." This assertive statement, covered by Geo TV, was made during a public gathering, underscoring the gravity of the unfolding situation.

The attack in Pahalgam, for which The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility, led to significant loss of life and injuries. Subsequently, India's Ministry of External Affairs declared the suspension of the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty, linking its reinstatement to Pakistan ceasing its support for cross-border terrorism.

The Indus Waters Treaty, established in 1960 with the World Bank's mediation, outlines the distribution of water resources, allocating the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India, alongside regulations for their utilisation.

Pakistan has reacted sharply to India's decision, threatening to withdraw from the Shimla Agreement and all other bilateral understandings. Reports also indicate that Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian carriers and halted all trade activities. Furthermore, Pakistan has stated that any effort to annul the Indus Waters Treaty would be construed as an act of war.

The Shimla Agreement, signed in 1972 between the then-Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, and the then-President of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, remains a contentious element in the complex relationship between the two nations.

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