Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warned on Monday that the war threshold between nuclear weapons neighbors, India and Pakistan had “never been inferior” after the military deadlock last month.
In an interview with Sky News in London, he expressed his concern that tensions between the two rivals remain dangerously high, despite a commercial ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump on May 10.
“Currently, the conflict threshold between India and Pakistan is the lowest than ever in our history,” he said. “We have reached the ceasefire, but we have not reached peace as it is today.”
The confrontation was launched by a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and the cashmere occupying Indians (Iiojk) which killed 26 tourists. India blamed the assault against groups based in Pakistan, an affirmation that Islamabad has firmly denied, calling for an impartial international survey.
For four days, the two parties exchanged missile strikes, drone attacks and engaged in an air fight, which raises fears of a large -scale war under a nuclear overhang. The crisis finally caused an international intervention aimed at de -escalation.
Bilawal warned that another attack – without evidence – could immediately trigger the war. “If there is a terrorist attack anywhere in India or in Iiojk, proof or no evidence, it means war,” he said. “It is not a tenable situation.” He reiterated Pakistan’s call for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all outstanding questions, including terrorism, cashmere and water disputes.
He also criticized India’s position on the Industry Water Treaty (IWT), saying that New Delhi’s delayed water versions could affect Pakistan agriculture. Any attempt to build new infrastructure on rivers allocated to Pakistan would be considered an assault. “Even a week late in water supply can destroy cultures,” he said. “It would be war.”
Rejecting the Indian accusations of Pakistani complicity in the Kashmir attack, Bilawal said that no credible evidence had been presented. “They went to war with nuclear power and still cannot appoint a single terrorist,” he said. He defended the record for the fight against terrorism of Pakistan, highlighting the withdrawal of the country from the Gray list of the FATF under his mandate as proof of progress.
Bilawal is currently heading a diplomatic mission in several world capitals to present Pakistan’s position following the conflict. The delegation held meetings with representatives of the United Nations, Member States and US officials, and continues commitments in London.
