Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has sharply criticised India’s decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it “an attack on the Indus Valley civilisation and culture.” Speaking at an event in Sindh, Bilawal warned that while Pakistan seeks peace, it would not back down if provoked, declaring, “we do not retreat, we do not bow down.”

India announced in April 2025 that it was putting the IWT in abeyance, citing national security concerns after the Pahalgam terror attack. The move ends decades of a World Bank-brokered arrangement governing the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two nations.

Bilawal accused New Delhi of targeting the livelihood of millions of Pakistanis who depend on the river system. He stressed that the Indus is not only a water source but also a core part of Pakistan’s heritage and identity, warning that Pakistan could take steps to assert control over all six rivers in the basin if water flows were restricted.

The comments follow strong statements from Pakistan’s military leadership, which hinted at severe consequences if water rights were violated. The treaty’s suspension has also sparked political reactions in India, where leaders dismissed Pakistan’s warnings and issued firm counter-responses.

Signed in 1960, the IWT is considered one of the most enduring water-sharing agreements in the world, surviving multiple wars between India and Pakistan. Its suspension marks a significant escalation in already strained bilateral ties.