Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Pakistan’s political and military leadership has escalated threats towards India, with former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto warning that the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty could push Pakistan to “consider all options, including war.” His remarks follow Pakistani army chief Asim Munir’s recent nuclear war warning in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor.
Bhutto Warns of Retaliation
Speaking at a Sindh government event, Bhutto accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of inflicting “great damage” to Pakistan and called for national unity. He warned that if India continued to block water under the Indus Treaty, Pakistanis were “strong enough for war to get back all six rivers” and would not hesitate to fight. He added that any future conflict would be one India “will definitely lose.”
Asim Munir’s Nuclear Threat
A day earlier, army chief Asim Munir declared that Pakistan was a nuclear nation prepared to “take half the world down” if facing an existential threat. He also threatened to destroy any dams India builds on Indus water channels, claiming such projects could endanger 250 million Pakistanis by triggering food shortages.
India’s Strong Response
The Indian Foreign Ministry condemned Munir’s nuclear remarks as “Pakistan’s stock-in-trade” and criticised the irresponsibility of making such statements from the soil of a friendly third country. It reiterated that India would not bow to “nuclear blackmail” and would take all steps necessary to safeguard national security. The statement also highlighted concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear command and control, given its ties between the military and terrorist groups.