Pakistan asks world powers to stop India’s water terrorism

LONDON: Pakistan has called on the world powers to intervene in resolving key issues with arch-rival India amid ongoing tensions following a conflict last month.

The call was made by former foreign minister and Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during his visit to London where he held several high-profile meetings. Bilawal is leading a delegation to present the Pakistani perspective on the recent conflict with India to the world and counter New Delhi’s unproven allegations. As part of its global outreach, the team has visited the United States, and is currently in London, and will also head to Brussels.

The delegation comprises Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Hina Rabbani Khar and Khurram Dastgir, senators Sherry Rehman, Musadik Malik, Faisal Subzwari and Bushra Anjum Butt along with senior envoys Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua.

Speaking to Pakistani media in London, Bilawal said: “We had the upper hand [during the conflict]. Despite that upper hand, we agreed to the ceasefire on the condition that there would be further dialogue in the future on all friction points at a neutral location.” When asked whether he thought that the Kashmir dispute would soon be resolved after the US mediated the ceasefire, Bilawal expressed the hope that “moving forward, Trump or his government will keep its promise” as Pakistan’s defence position was better than India’s during the conflict.

Bilawal said Pakistan had locked 20 Indian jets but downed only six and showed restraint for the world peace, adding Pakistan clearly won the war against India and showed the world its resilience.

“We hope that on an international level, whether it’s the United States or the United Kingdom, they all would play their role and convince India to resolve our issues through talks,” he said, adding: “We want talks with India on all issues including Kashmir… The solution to all problems starts from Kashmir.”

The PPP leader further said Pakistan had asserted its “strength” by taking down six Indian jets and now peace needed to be established. He further said that throughout the conflict, the country was seen as a “rational and responsible state”.

Bilawal also spoke at think-tanks Chatham House and International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS). Speaking at IISS, he said India’s actions constituted a clear violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, international law and the United Nations Charter. Condemning India’s move to unilaterally and illegally hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, Bilawal warned that the “weaponisation of water undermines international norms and sets a perilous precedent”, and called on the international community to take notice of the “alarming development and hold India to account for its actions”.

“Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state. It has made clear that stopping water will be considered a declaration of war,” he added.

The delegation also met with UK’s Middle East minister Hamish Falconer and his team at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Faisal wrote on X. Late in the evening, Bilawal and the delegation visited the UK Parliament to meet MPs to present Pakistan’s case. The PPP chairman lauded US President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts to stop a possible war between the two countries. “US President’s role in ceasefire is commendable,” he added.