Thu May 01 10:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Bilawal Bhutto Defends “Blood in River” Remark Amidst Indus Waters Treaty Dispute
**ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN** – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has doubled down on his controversial “blood in river” statement, made in response to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Bhutto, speaking at a rally and in a recent BBC interview, justified his remarks, arguing they reflected the sentiments of the Pakistani people following India’s action.
Bhutto’s statement, made after a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir claimed 26 lives, provoked international attention. He declared that either Pakistan’s water would flow through the Indus River, or “their blood” would. In his defense, Bhutto emphasized that he was speaking as a political figure at a rally, not as a government representative. He linked his statement directly to India’s potential weaponization of water, stating that any such move would be considered an act of war, and war inevitably results in bloodshed.
The IWT, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates river water between India and Pakistan. India’s recent suspension of the treaty, following the terror attack claimed by a Pakistan-based group, has heightened tensions. India is now reportedly exploring ways to utilize the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers more fully. Bhutto’s comments underscore the escalating tensions between the two countries over water rights and the implications of the IWT suspension. He also highlighted the historical and cultural significance of the Indus River to Pakistan.
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