Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has warned that India’s actions could spark a nuclear conflict over water in South Asia. Speaking at a policy forum in Washington, he accused India of repeatedly violating the Indus Waters Treaty and turning water into a weapon against Pakistan. He called on global powers to act urgently, labeling water as an existential issue for his country.
Urgent Global Attention Demanded
Bilawal emphasized that Pakistan does not treat this crisis as rhetoric. “Any country would fight for its survival and its water,” he stated. He urged the world to take a firm stand against what he termed Indian aggression, warning that shutting off water supply amounts to an act of war.
Support for Independent Probe
At the same forum hosted by the Middle East Institute, former US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson supported Pakistan’s call for a neutral investigation into the Pahalgam attack. The incident had escalated tensions and brought the region close to war. Patterson criticized the lack of forensic evidence from India and suggested agencies like the FBI or Scotland Yard should lead the inquiry.
Diplomatic Showdown in Washington
Delegations from both Pakistan and India are in Washington to lobby US officials. Pakistan’s team includes prominent political figures such as Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, and Musadik Malik. India’s group is led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and includes members of various political parties, along with ex-ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
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The Indian delegation met US Vice President JD Vance, leveraging his ties to India. Meanwhile, US officials assured Pakistan of “equal representation” in meetings with lawmakers and congressional committees.
Strategic Narratives at Play
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert, noted that both countries are pushing their narratives aggressively. He said India typically avoids international forums on bilateral issues, but its current engagement reflects the stakes. Kugelman added that Washington generally sides with India, especially on issues like Kashmir.
Experts like Hassan Abbas urged the US to treat both nations fairly and revive intelligence cooperation to combat terrorism in the region.
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