As the political tension continues to escalate between India and Pakistan following India's retaliatory measure of freezing the crucial Indus Water Treaty after Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the country was the true custodian of the Indus civilisation and warned India that "either our water or their blood will flow through it".
A suspension of the treaty is feared to have heavy implications for Pakistan in the future as it provides water for 80% of its agricultural land.
Addressing a public rally on Friday, Bhutto, who has also served as Pakistan's foreign minister, said, "We will not allow anyone to bargain over the Indus. To hide its weaknesses and fool the people, the Modi government is unilaterally suspending the Indus Water Treaty by making false allegations against Pakistan, but I want to stand by the Indus River in Sukkur and give a clear message to India that the Indus River is ours and will remain ours, either our water will flow from this Indus or your blood!"
"He (Modi) says they are heirs to a civilisation thousands of years old, but that civilisation lies in Mohenjo Daro, in Larkana. We are its true custodians, and we will defend it," Bhutto said while adding "India is unlawfully abrogating the treaty under which it had acknowledged that the Indus belongs to Pakistan", as per media reports.
India Suspends IWT
A day after the heinous militant attack killing 26 people and injuring several others in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, India announced a few retaliatory measures against Pakistan including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
Announcing a diplomatic downgrade with Pakistan after an over two-hour long cabinet meeting presided by PM Modi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the treaty will be kept in abeyance with immediate effect till Pakistan stops cross border terrorism.
What Is Indus Water Treaty?
The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan with the World Bank being a signatory of the pact which was signed in 1960.
The treaty set out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding use of waters of a the Indus River system, which flows through both countries. .
However, there have been disagreements and differences between India and Pakistan over the treaty.
The Indus River system consists of six major rivers - Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
These rivers flow from the Himalayas through India and Pakistan, with some originating in Tibet and Kashmir.
While the treaty allocates unrestricted use of eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India for irrigation, hydropower, and other purposes, the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) are allocated primarily to Pakistan.
