Piyush Goyal Ridicules Zardari’s Indus Treaty Rant, Calls Pakistan A Terror-Obsessed Failure

In a harsh criticism of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's remarks about the Indus Waters Treaty, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday that it is "unfortunate" that such people exist in the world. "I am confident that many Pakistani citizens themselves would disagree with Zardari's rhetoric," Goyal said, calling Pakistan a "despondent" country with no goals other than encouraging terrorism.

"Pakistan is only interested in inciting terror. The existence of politicians such as these is a disaster for the world. "I think many people in Pakistan also reject such views, and I condemn it," Goyal said.

His remarks came after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. Speaking at a public event in Sukkur, Bhutto-Zardari responded by accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration of acting unilaterally and promising a robust Pakistani response. "Either our water will flow from this Indus or your blood," he asserted, referring to the Indus River.

In a widely shared interview with Sky News, Pakistan's defense minister, Khwaja Asif, candidly acknowledged that his country had supported and trained terrorist organizations for decades, primarily in support of Western interests during the Cold War and after 9/11. This further exacerbated Pakistan's problems. Asif admitted that it was a "mistake" that had a significant financial cost to Pakistan.

India took a number of diplomatic actions against Pakistan after the 26-person Pahalgam terror attack. These actions included closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, which imposed a 40-hour return deadline, and reducing the number of diplomatic personnel at both High Commissions.

The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty was also suspended by India. The country was reassured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Pahalgam attack's perpetrators and their conspirators would suffer unimaginable repercussions.

With ANI Inputs