Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday extended an appeal for peaceful engagement with India during an address in Pakistan&rsquo;s National Assembly, following earlier remarks in which he issued threats over the Indus Waters Treaty.
Speaking before lawmakers, Bhutto-Zardari stated that Pakistan seeks peace, not conflict, and stressed the importance of truthful dialogue between the two nations.&nbsp;
&ldquo;If India wishes to walk the path of peace, let them come with open hands and not clenched fists. Let them come with facts and not fabrication. Let us sit as neighbours and speak the truth,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
He added, &ldquo;If they do not ... then let them remember that the people of Pakistan are not made to kneel. The people of Pakistan have a resolve to fight, not because we love conflict, but because we love freedom.&rdquo;
The comments mark a notable departure from the position Bhutto-Zardari expressed during a public address in Sukkur on April 25, where he warned India against unilateral moves concerning the Indus River.&nbsp;
At the time, he said, &ldquo;I would like to stand here in Sukkur by the Indus and tell India that the Indus is ours and the Indus will remain ours, whether water flows in this Indus or their blood.&rdquo;
He further declared that Pakistanis would respond collectively to what he described as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s aggression. He referenced his party's position on domestic water projects, stating, &ldquo;Just as the PPP did not approve the canal project without consensus, Pakistanis will stand united and give a resounding response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aggression on the Indus River.&rdquo;
Bhutto-Zardari&rsquo;s appeal for peace comes at a time of heightened hostility between the two neighbours. Tensions have escalated since the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national, with several others injured.
In response, India announced retaliatory measures on April 23, which included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the only operational land border at Attari, and reducing diplomatic ties with Pakistan. The Indian government linked these actions to evidence suggesting cross-border involvement in the Pahalgam attack.
Defending Pakistan&rsquo;s position in the National Assembly, Bhutto-Zardari asserted that the country has been a target of terrorism rather than a source of it. &ldquo;Pakistan was the victim of terrorism and does not export terror,&rdquo; he said.
Following his remarks in Sukkur, Bhutto-Zardari&rsquo;s account on the social media platform X was suspended. The platform took action after his warning that &ldquo;blood would flow in the Indus River if India blocked the waters.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Alongside Bhutto-Zardari, the account of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was also withheld from users in India in response to legal demands.
(With inputs from agencies)
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After strong warnings on Indus waters, Bilawal Bhutto shifts tone, urges peace and honest dialogue

Bilawal Bhutto Seeks Peace After Indus Threats

After strong warnings on Indus waters, Bilawal Bhutto shifts tone, urges peace and honest dialogue

May 6, 2025 | 18:27 IST