'Pakistan Wants Peace With Dignity, Not Submission': Bilawal Bhutto On Indus Waters Treaty Row

Last Updated:July 01, 2026, 10:52 IST

Bilawal Bhutto called water security a matter of Pakistan's survival and urged India to restore the Indus Waters Treaty, while other Pakistani leaders backed legal action.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday asserted Pakistan wanted “peace with dignity" and “dialogue under law" as he accused India of undermining the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), asserting that Islamabad would not compromise on what it described as its water rights.

Speaking at an international seminar, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman said any attempt to weaken Pakistan’s position on the water-sharing agreement would be met with a united national response.

Bilawal claimed Pakistan was committed to peace but would not accept what he described as submission in matters concerning the country’s sovereignty and access to water resources.

“If anyone believes that Pakistan will surrender Sindh, they do not know Pakistan. They do not know Sindh. They do not know Punjab. They do not know Balochistan. They do not know Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They do not know Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan. They do not know the people who have lived by these rivers for thousands and thousands of years," Bilawal said.

“We want peace, but peace with dignity. We want dialogue, but dialogue under law. We want coexistence, but not submission," he said.

He added, “Pakistan will defend its water, its people, its treaty, its sovereignty and its future."

Bilawal also warned that any move to undermine Pakistan’s water rights would trigger a nationwide response, while maintaining that Islamabad would not compromise on what he called the fundamental rights of its people.

Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty, Bilawal alleged that using water as a tool of pressure was against international law.

“Pakistan must speak clearly. The Indus is not a pressure point. The Indus is not a bargaining chip. The Indus is not a weapon to be placed in India’s hands. The Indus is a lifeline of Pakistan. And any attempt to turn that lifeline into a noose must be treated as a threat to the survival of our state," he said.

He further said that Pakistan must convey this position “to India" as well as “to the world", adding that the message should be delivered “not in panic, not in hysteria, not in recklessness, but with the cold clarity of a people who know what is at stake."

Bilawal’s remarks came after India placed the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

During his address, he alleged that India had failed to honour its commitments under the agreement and cautioned against what he described as the weaponisation of water resources.

The PPP leader asserted that India must comply with the provisions of the treaty and said the waters of the Indus River were essential for Pakistan’s survival.

He also argued that lasting peace in the region would not be possible without the restoration of the water-sharing agreement.

Bilawal further maintained that Pakistan’s rights under the treaty should remain protected and claimed that Pakistan had adhered to the terms of the ceasefire while India had not fully honoured its commitments.

He also said Pakistan’s recognised rights over the waters of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers must be respected.

Calling the dispute more than a technical issue, Bilawal described water security as a matter of national security for Pakistan.

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also defended the treaty, describing it as an important instrument for regional peace, stability and cooperation.

He also warned that any changes to the existing water-sharing arrangement could have significant implications for regional peace and security.

The remarks from Pakistan’s leadership come in the backdrop of India’s decision to suspend the 1960 agreement following the Pahalgam terror attack.

New Delhi has maintained that the treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan takes verifiable and irreversible action against cross-border terrorism.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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