Nuclear Rhetoric from Asim Munir, Bilawal Bhutto Followed by Plea on Water Sharing Pact
Days after threats of war and nuclear conflict from top Pakistani leaders, Islamabad has requested India to resume full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The appeal follows India’s decision to place the treaty in abeyance after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which New Delhi blames on Pakistan-backed militants.
The request was issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday, as it welcomed the August 8 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding water use and hydropower development on rivers governed by the treaty.
Pakistan’s Statement: “Let the Waters Flow”
In its statement, Pakistan cited the arbitration ruling, stating:
“India shall ‘let flow’ the waters of the Western Rivers for Pakistan’s unrestricted use. Any exceptions—such as hydropower generation—must strictly follow the Indus Waters Treaty terms, not India’s preferred or ideal practices.”
The Western Rivers include the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum—key sources of water for Pakistan’s agricultural and domestic use. The Foreign Office emphasized that the ruling validates Pakistan’s interpretation of treaty terms and called for India to immediately resume treaty obligations.
India’s Position: Security First
India has rejected the arbitration proceedings, maintaining it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in this matter.
After the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April, India undertook several punitive diplomatic measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, originally signed in 1960 under World Bank mediation.
India insists that Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism has rendered normal diplomatic and treaty-based relations unsustainable.
War of Words: From Water Dispute to Nuclear Threats
The water-sharing dispute has escalated due to incendiary remarks from top Pakistani leaders:
- Bilawal Bhutto, former foreign minister, warned that Pakistan would “consider all options, including war” to regain control over its water rights.
- He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of “great damage” to Pakistan and urged Pakistanis to unite for war to reclaim “all six rivers.”
“If India continues on this path… we may have no choice but to protect our interests, even through war,” Bhutto declared.
- A day earlier, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, issued a nuclear threat, warning that a future war with India could end in global devastation.
He claimed Pakistan would “take down half the world” if faced with an existential threat from India.
Treaty in Tension: Political vs Practical
The Indus Waters Treaty has long been considered a model of cooperation between rival nations. However, growing mistrust, cross-border violence, and escalating rhetoric have pushed it to the brink.
- India views water diplomacy through a security-first lens, especially after terror attacks.
- Pakistan sees the treaty as vital for survival, both agriculturally and symbolically.
The contrast between Pakistan’s war rhetoric and its diplomatic appeal for water talks reveals deep contradictions in its approach to India. As nuclear threats and political statements dominate headlines, the future of South Asia’s most crucial water-sharing pact hangs in the balance.
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