Amid a deepening diplomatic rift between India and Pakistan following the , AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi delivered a scathing rebuke to Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, questioning his incendiary rhetoric and reminding him of the brutal assassination of his mother at the hands of terrorists.
While interacting with reporters on Monday in Maharashtra, Owaisi was asked about Bhutto’s recent statement on India with Pakistan.
“Indus is ours and will remain ours; either our water will flow through it or our blood,” Bhutto, the former foreign minister, said at a rally.
When asked about the inflammatory remark, Owaisi urged Bhutto to exercise caution in his statements. “Let’s not engage in childish commentary. Does he not remember what happened to his grandfather? Does he not remember what happened to his mother?” Owaisi said, referring to former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in a suicide bombing in 2007.
“His mother was killed by terrorists; hence, he shouldn’t be making such statements. Does he have any idea about who he is talking to and what he is saying?” the MP added.
“Unless the US gives you something, you cannot run your country and you are trying to stare us down,” Owaisi added.
The tensions escalated after India, for the first time, suspended the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) — a landmark water-sharing agreement — in response to the deadly terror strike in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed at least 26 lives and left dozens injured.
Owaisi also took sharp aim at Pakistan’s alleged efforts to stoke communal divisions within India. “Whether it’s ISI, ISIS, IS-K or the Pakistani deep state, they want to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims in India. That is why they did it. That is why they targeted non-Muslims in Kashmir — to send a message that no non-Muslim can enter Kashmir,” he said.
Making an appeal for internal unity, Owaisi added, “Hence, I appeal to our citizens: you may have political differences, but don’t let them succeed in their agenda by undermining our unity.”
The AIMIM leader further called for Pakistan to be re-added to the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list, citing its continued alleged financing of terrorist activities. “I demand that Pakistan be added to the FATF greylist. They are financing terrorism using illegal money,” Owaisi asserted.
Following the treaty suspension, India also revoked visas issued to Pakistani nationals, with over 500 individuals having already exited through the Attari-Wagah border. In a retaliatory move, Pakistan cancelled visas for Indian citizens, closed its airspace to Indian flights, and suspended the 1972 Simla Agreement — a cornerstone pact meant to stabilise relations between the two nations.
Benazir Bhutto’s assassination is often attributed to groups like Al Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
