Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday made strong remarks during a joint session of Parliament, claiming that he was advised to take shelter in a bunker when India launched strikes during Operation Sindoor, but he refused to do so. He further alleged that amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, India appears to be preparing for another war.
Addressing lawmakers, Zardari accused India of committing “hydro terrorism” by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. He said linking water flows to political disputes and using them as a weapon was unjustified and dangerous. According to him, recent developments indicate that New Delhi is gearing up for further confrontation. He, however, reiterated that Pakistan prefers to resolve issues through dialogue and peaceful engagement and remains ready for talks with India.
The remarks come in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed. Following the incident, India launched strikes under Operation Sindoor targeting alleged terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India also announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and closed the border. Although both sides later declared a ceasefire, sporadic incidents have continued in border areas.
Meanwhile, reports of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in US-Israel strikes have triggered protests in Pakistan, where demonstrators targeted the American Embassy and raised slogans against Washington and Tel Aviv. In India, Shia Muslim groups staged protests in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Hyderabad, further intensifying the tense atmosphere in the region.