Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Warns of Reassessing Bilateral Ties Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions

In the wake of the recent Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives, Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister and PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has emphasised the importance of dialogue with India but cautioned that all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Agreement, could be reconsidered if India maintains its current stance. ​

Speaking on Aaj News’s “Spotlight” with Muneeza Jahangir, Bilawal highlighted the role of non-state actors in destabilising regional peace and called for a joint mechanism to address terrorism.

He stressed that if India refuses a neutral inquiry into the Pahalgam incident, it risks international scrutiny.

Bilawal reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of the attack, noting the country’s own extensive suffering due to terrorism.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari strongly criticised India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, describing the move as illegal and highly dangerous. He emphasised that this was the first time India had openly challenged the treaty, noting that even during previous wars, such actions were not taken. He accused India of linking the Kashmir dispute to water issues as a tactic to conceal its weak legal standing on both fronts.

Reaffirming his stance on dialogue, the PPP chairman stated that negotiations are the only way to address the ongoing terrorism challenge, highlighting that non-state actors pose a shared threat requiring coordinated efforts from both countries. He asserted that Pakistan has consistently expressed willingness for talks, whereas India has persistently avoided meaningful dialogue.

Bilawal also referenced his recent meeting with the prime minister, stressing that the PPP has clearly communicated its support for the government in the face of India’s recent provocations. He pledged full backing for the decisions of the National Security Committee and urged the media and public to refrain from inflaming tensions or creating a war-like atmosphere.

Furthermore, Bilawal accused India of scapegoating Muslims and Pakistan to divert attention from its internal issues. He warned that India’s legal position on both Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty is extremely weak, and argued that India’s refusal to allow a neutral investigation into the Pahalgam attack would further expose its duplicity on the international stage.

The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, targeted tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), leading to heightened tensions between the two nations.

India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based militants, prompting a series of retaliatory measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and downgrading diplomatic ties.

In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights and suspended the Simla Agreement, a cornerstone of India-Pakistan relations since 1972.