ISLAMABAD/SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has called for dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve ongoing disputes, as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.
In an interview with a private TV channel, Bilawal criticised India’s rejection of Pakistan’s offer for talks following the deadly April 22 attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 people dead. Islamabad has denied India’s allegations of supporting “cross-border terrorism” linked to the incident.
In response to the fallout, India downgraded diplomatic ties, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and closed visa services, while Pakistan reciprocated with airspace restrictions and diplomatic expulsions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered to participate in a neutral investigation into the attack.
Bilawal voiced full support for the government’s response and warned that if India terminates the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan would respond appropriately. He noted that international law forbids obstructing water even during wartime and said India had weakened its own position by taking such an aggressive step.
The PPP chairman also stressed the importance of maintaining agreements like the Shimla Accord and the Indus Waters Treaty, adding that India’s case on both Kashmir and water disputes is weak. He highlighted that as nuclear powers, both countries face international pressure to avoid escalation, pointing out that India’s All Parties Conference had acknowledged internal security failures.
