South Asia Faces Heightened War Risk – Bilawal

South Asia faces heightened war risk tensions between Pakistan and India have reached a precarious point. With the risk of war alarmingly high despite a recent ceasefire, according to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Speaking on international platforms, he described the situation in South Asia as highly volatile, emphasizing that the threshold for a full-scale military conflict is at its lowest in history.

The fragile ceasefire, brokered last month with U.S. assistance, has not translated into lasting peace. Bhutto-Zardari highlighted a recent escalation where Pakistan had mere seconds to assess whether a missile launched by India was nuclear-armed, underscoring the razor-thin margin for error between the two nuclear powers. He stressed that the absence of robust dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms exacerbates the danger, particularly in light of India’s alleged threats to disrupt Pakistan’s water supply under the Indus Waters Treaty, an action he warned could be interpreted as an act of war.

Bhutto-Zardari, leading a diplomatic mission across global capitals, urged the international community to push for comprehensive talks to address longstanding issues like Kashmir, water security, and terrorism. He rejected India’s accusations of Pakistan’s involvement in a recent attack in India-occupied Kashmir, calling for cooperation between the two nations’ intelligence agencies to curb terrorism. Posts on X echo this sentiment, noting the absence of a dispute resolution framework and the heightened risk of nuclear escalation if tensions are not addressed.

The region’s stability hinges on dialogue, with Bhutto-Zardari cautioning that unilateral actions, such as India’s reported suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, could precipitate catastrophic conflict. He called on global powers to facilitate negotiations to prevent South Asia from sliding into war, a scenario that would have far-reaching consequences beyond the region.

Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 23rd, 2025

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