Using Water Resources as a Weapon Threatens Global Peace, Says Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that using maritime routes or water resources as a political weapon poses a serious threat to global peace and stability, stressing that water has become a central issue in international politics and security.

Addressing an international seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty, Bilawal said water is not merely a matter of geography but is directly linked to food security, the future, and human survival. He added that the international community now recognizes water resources as a key factor in global politics and security.

Drawing a comparison with the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, he said that just as any disruption to the strait affects the global economy, the waters of the Indus River are vital to Pakistan’s survival. He warned that using sea lanes or water resources as instruments of pressure would endanger international peace.

Bilawal further stated that sustainable peace between Pakistan and India would not be possible without the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty. He said Pakistan had complied with the terms of the ceasefire, while India had not fully honored its commitments.

He emphasized that Pakistan’s share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty must be protected, noting that the Indus River is the lifeline of millions of people and a key source for agriculture and the national economy.

The PPP chairman said Pakistan’s rights over the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers are recognized under international agreements. He urged that water issues should be treated not merely as technical disputes but as matters of national security, adding that any attempt to undermine Pakistan’s water rights would receive a national response.

Bilawal reiterated that Pakistan seeks peace but will not compromise on the fundamental rights of its people or its water interests. He added that the entire nation stands united in safeguarding the country’s water rights and that using water as a tool of political pressure violates international law and treaty obligations.