As India ramps up provocations against Pakistan and escalates tensions along the borders, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday (April 25) delivered a strong message to New Delhi: Pakistan, as the rightful inheritor of the Indus civilisation, will fiercely defend its claim over the river.
Reacting to India's unilateral decision to withdraw from the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam attack, Bilawal asserted that, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims, the true custodians of the ancient Indus heritage reside on Pakistani soil.
"The Sindhu belongs to us, and it will remain ours," Bilawal declared at a charged public rally in Sukkur. He cautioned India that if water is denied, rivers will flow with blood instead.
He emphasised that the great Indus civilisation thrived at Mohenjo-Daro, located in present-day Larkana, Sindh— not India— and stressed that Pakistanis are its true descendants. "We will defend our heritage with everything we have," he vowed.
Bilawal condemned Indian attempts to sever the historical bond between Sindh's people and the Indus River, warning that Pakistan and the international community would not tolerate any moves to divert Indus waters. He called for national unity across Pakistan's provinces to counter what he termed India's "robbery of the Sindhu."
"We will send a clear message to the world: the theft of our river will not be accepted," Bilawal pledged.
The former foreign minister also condemned the recent terrorist attack in India, expressing solidarity with the victims while criticising New Delhi's unfounded accusations against Pakistan. He accused India of using baseless allegations to distract from its own internal failures and to justify unlawfully dismantling the historic treaty, which had recognised Pakistan's rights to the Indus waters.
Reaffirming his commitment to a united front, Bilawal assured Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif that despite political differences, the PPP would stand shoulder to shoulder with the federal government to defend Pakistan's water rights.
Breakthrough on Controversial Canals
Bilawal also celebrated a major victory for the PPP and Sindh: the federal government's agreement to halt the construction of six controversial new canals on the Indus River unless consensus among all provinces is achieved.
"I am pleased to announce that no new canals will be built without the consensus of the Council of Common Interests (CCI)," Bilawal said, lauding the federal government's decision to prioritise provincial unity over majority rule within the council.
He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sharif for acknowledging the concerns raised by Sindh and for agreeing to uphold the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 and the Water Policy of 2018, which emphasise equitable resource distribution.
Bilawal revealed that the next CCI meeting is scheduled for May 2, where Sindh's longstanding objections, particularly regarding the issuance of water availability certificates by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), will be addressed.
"This meeting will bring an end to the issue of unauthorised canal construction,'' he affirmed.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, and senior leader Syed Khursheed Shah also addressed the gathering, reinforcing the party's stance on protecting water rights.
PPP Hails Victory for Constitutional Federalism
Earlier, PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri described the recent developments as a "historic breakthrough" in protecting provincial rights. Speaking at a press conference, Marri praised Bilawal’s leadership, crediting him for securing the federal government's commitment to provincial consensus on water projects.
"This is not just a victory for the PPP, but for all federating units— and ultimately, for every citizen of Pakistan," she said.
Marri reaffirmed the PPP's commitment to equitable resource distribution and emphasised that water, as a national asset, must be managed through collective consultation.
She welcomed the formation of a joint federal-provincial committee tasked with crafting a long-term water and agricultural policy based on the 1991 Accord and the 2018 Water Policy, stressing that Pakistan's survival and prosperity depend on constitutional harmony and interprovincial trust.
Marri also denounced India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a “cruel and unilateral” move. She reiterated Bilawal's condemnation of India’s decision, labelling it "illegal and inhumane."
"No country can unilaterally abrogate an international treaty," she said firmly.
Pledging to raise the issue on every global platform, Marri stated that Bilawal and the PPP would continue to champion Pakistan’s right to the Indus waters and resist any attempts at injustice.
