Pakistan Urges UN Action on India Tensions, Warns Against Water Militarization and Israeli Tactics

Watan-A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, visited the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday to present Pakistan’s perspective on recent clashes with India and rising tensions in South Asia.

The delegation met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Security Council President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the ten elected Security Council members, and the current President of the General Assembly, Philemon Yang.

Zardari stated:“Militarizing water in the India-Pakistan dispute during an era of climate change is unprecedented and unacceptable to any civilized nation.”

During a press conference at the UN, Zardari addressed the events of May 7, when India launched attacks on Pakistan following allegations that Islamabad was behind an April 22 terrorist attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir that killed 26 people.

Zardari emphasized that Pakistan condemned the attack, denied involvement, and even offered an impartial international investigation, which India rejected. He asserted that India initiated the aggression, forcing Pakistan to exercise its right to self-defense by shooting down six Indian jets. Despite the capability to down more, the Pakistani Air Force showed restraint. He added that India had also targeted civilian areas and water infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties.

Zardari praised U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their calls to de-escalate, and appreciated UN Secretary-General Guterres’ intervention. He warned that in future incidents, “there might not be time for restraint” between two nuclear-armed nations, calling on the international community to pressure India into negotiations.

He reiterated that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism, suffering the highest number of attacks and casualties.
“I myself am a victim—my mother, Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated by terrorists.”

He strongly warned against weaponizing water, stressing its life-or-death importance for 200 million Pakistanis.

Zardari also accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of fostering anti-Muslim sentiment and demonizing both Pakistan and Indian Muslims—especially in Kashmir.

“India must work with us to combat terrorism instead of placing 1.7 billion lives in the hands of extremists.”

He added that any attack in India or Kashmir is immediately blamed on Pakistan, while the root causes—oppression and denial of Kashmiri self-determination—go ignored.

In response to a question from Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Zardari confirmed reports of Israeli drones used in India’s attacks on Pakistan, noting that Pakistani military officials could provide further details.

When asked about parallels between Israeli settlement in Palestine and Indian settler policies in Kashmir, Zardari remarked:”What is happening in Gaza is unparalleled. However, India’s 2019 move to revoke Kashmir’s special status and promote Hindu settlement mirrors Israel’s demographic tactics in the West Bank.”

He further warned:”India has borrowed Israel’s ugliest methods—violations of international law, blaming critics as terrorists, and refusing accountability. Modi is the Indian version of Netanyahu.”

Zardari concluded by highlighting the peaceful roots of both nations in ancient Aryan civilization, which historically showed no signs of militarism.

“Modi has two paths: diplomacy or massacre. He was once the ‘Butcher of Gujarat’ and now wants to become the ‘Butcher of Kashmir.’ But the majority of Indians and Pakistanis want peace—and that’s why we’re here at the UN, heading next to Washington.”

India, in parallel, sent a delegation led by former UN official and ex-Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor to Washington to present its perspective to U.S. officials and Congress. Both sides aim to influence American policymakers and public opinion.