Our Terms & Conditions | Our Privacy Policy
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addresses a press conference on October 7, 2023. — AFP/File
BRUSSELS: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, head of Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation on a visit to Europe, has said Pakistan has been cooperating fully with the international community against terrorism since 2001.
“If India feels terrorism is its biggest challenge, it should sit down with Pakistan and try to resolve this issue,” Bilawal said while addressing a press conference at the European Press Club along with a delegation from Pakistan.
Bilawal Bhutto said it was thought bilateral talks would start after the ceasefire, but this expectation was not fulfilled. The Kashmiri nation has become the biggest and the first victim of accusation of terrorism levelled by India, he told the media.
Bilawal said Pakistan wants peace, and for this, Islamabad is ready to talk to Delhi by all means. But India, he said, is not ready for this.
“Instead of resolving the previous issues, India has started a new water dispute. It now wants to use water as a weapon. Stopping water for 240 million people would be considered an act of war, and we will not allow it”, Bilawal vowed.
He said Pakistan understands Europe’s desire for free trade with India. If India engages in war with its neighbours repeatedly, which can turn into a nuclear war due to any miscalculation, then what the future of the investment made in India will be, he asked.
He gave the example of recent dispute with India in which India used a nuclear-capable BrahMos missile. In such a situation, the other side would barely have a few minutes to think whether this missile is empty or carrying a bomb, he remarked.
In response to a question, Bilawal said India says Kashmir is its internal matter. “But despite its efforts, the Kashmir issue has been internationalised. US President is talking about resolving this issue, and we welcome it”, he said.
Pakistan, he said, wants to resolve every issue with India through dialogue. “We are giving this message to everyone to play their role for peace in our region”, he added.
During the press conference, he was asked by Jang and Geo, “When India does not accept any mediation and wants to resolve every issue unilaterally by force, do you think the Kashmir issue can be resolved in this situation?” In response, Bilawal said that for the world it may be a different kind of issue, but for the new generation of India, Pakistan and the subcontinent, this is the biggest challenge that later we will not be able to resolve it.
Bilawal said that according to experts, Pakistan is among top 10 countries suffering due to environmental problems and water scarcity. After the South Pole, the highest rate of natural ice melting and biggest threat is in the Himalayas, he said.
“If India tries to do everything unilaterally, it cannot deal with environmental problems alone. It cannot stop the water of an entire population,” Bilawal emphasized. For this, India will have to speak sooner or later, he said.
In response to the same question, Pakistan’s Environment Minister Musadik Malik said India is creating a new problem for the nations living in the lower reaches of the rivers. “Now this (Indus Water Treaty) is not just a problem of India or Pakistan. India is trying to formulate a new law or principle that those who live in the lower reaches of the rivers have no right to get water”, he noted. The minister said India is forgetting that not only Pakistan is in the last part of the water flow, it itself is also in the lower reaches of water coming from some other country. Under this principle, what will happen to Africa, Latin America and European countries themselves, he asked.
He said India has internationalised this issue on its own. “Now this issue is not only between India and Pakistan,” he added. For this, all the nations in the lower parts of the rivers will have to stand up and raise their voices, he urged.
He clarified there are very few agreements between countries regarding water in the world, but the IWT exists in the form of a regular treaty between Pakistan and India.
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
Aggregated From –
Comments are closed.