Islamabad/Sukkur — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has defended his controversial statement — “either our water will flow through it, or their blood” — made shortly after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including tourists.
Speaking to the BBC, Bhutto clarified that his words were part of a political speech, not an official government stance. “I am not a part of the military or the government. I was speaking emotionally at a public rally, just a day after the Indus Waters Treaty was violated by India,” he explained.
“When There is War, Blood Does Flow”
Bhutto justified his comments by referring to the Indian government’s decision to put the IWT in abeyance, calling it an act that could lead to conflict. He said, “If India weaponises water, what options do we have? The current government has called it an act of war. And when there is war, blood does flow.”
He added that the remark was an expression of the emotions of the Pakistani people, particularly after the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, which was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror group.
Indus River: Symbol of Culture and Identity
Speaking at a rally on the banks of the River Indus in Sindh province, Bhutto underlined the cultural and historical significance of the river. “Mohenjo-Daro thrived on its banks. We are the true custodians of this river, and we will defend it,” he said.
What is the Indus Waters Treaty?
Signed in 1960 with the World Bank as a broker, the treaty gave India rights over the eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—while Pakistan received the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. With India suspending the treaty following the Pahalgam attack, it is now exploring full utilisation of the western rivers under its territory.
