In a sharp escalation of diplomatic rhetoric, former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has accused India of pushing South Asia to the brink of the world’s first nuclear war over water, while a former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan has publicly endorsed Islamabad’s demand for an independent international inquiry into the controversial Pahalgam incident.
Speaking at a policy forum organized by the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington, Anne Patterson—former U.S. ambassador to Islamabad—criticized the longstanding mistrust that continues to impair U.S.-Pakistan relations, despite ongoing cooperation on security issues. She particularly highlighted how India avoided providing forensic or investigative evidence after the Pahalgam attack, yet international observers still accepted New Delhi’s narrative blaming Pakistan for terrorism.
“The U.S.-Pakistan relationship is stuck in the past,” Patterson remarked. “India was not even asked to present hard evidence. An impartial probe by agencies like the FBI or Scotland Yard is urgently needed to uncover the truth and prevent future escalations.”
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, during his address, emphasized Pakistan’s three core concerns: terrorism, the Kashmir dispute, and water security. He warned that India’s repeated violations of the Indus Waters Treaty and threats to Pakistan’s water supply were setting the stage for a catastrophic conflict.
“What was once a theoretical ‘water war’ is becoming dangerously real,” Bhutto-Zardari said. “If India cuts off our water, it’s an existential crisis—an act of war. We are not being dramatic; any nation would defend its survival and its access to water.”
He called on global powers, particularly the United States, to take a principled stand against what he described as India’s aggressive behavior.
Dual Delegations in Washington
As both India and Pakistan step up diplomatic efforts in Washington, U.S. officials find themselves navigating a delicate balancing act. Delegations from both countries are currently engaging American lawmakers and policymakers to sway opinion on key bilateral issues.
The Pakistani delegation includes prominent political figures such as Senator Sherry Rehman, former ministers Hina Rabbani Khar and Dr. Musadik Malik, as well as diplomats like Tehmina Janjua and Jalil Abbas Jilani. Meanwhile, the Indian delegation is led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and includes members of various political parties, along with former Ambassador to the U.S. Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
The Indian group met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, leveraging his pro-India stance to reinforce their position. In contrast, the Pakistani delegation met with the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and other key lawmakers, with diplomatic sources noting that U.S. officials assured them of “equal representation for both sides.”
Competing Narratives and Global Perceptions
Michael Kugelman, a senior South Asia analyst based in Washington, described the simultaneous visits as part of a “high-octane diplomatic effort” from both countries to secure American support at a critical time.
“India usually avoids internationalizing bilateral disputes,” said Kugelman. “But its active outreach now underscores the stakes. While New Delhi portrays Pakistan as failing on counter-terrorism, Islamabad is trying to reframe India as an unreliable actor and aggressor.”
However, Kugelman acknowledged that India still holds the upper hand in Washington. “There is bipartisan sympathy for Indian narratives in the U.S., especially when it comes to avoiding involvement in the Kashmir issue,” he said.
Despite this advantage, some American analysts and scholars have called for a more balanced approach. Hassan Abbas of the National Defence University stressed that Pakistan has made significant progress in counter-terrorism, often at a high cost. “Now, Pakistan deserves recognition and strategic support. Intelligence cooperation must be renewed to counter shared threats,” he urged.
Lobbying on Capitol Hill
Both delegations have been active on Capitol Hill, meeting with senior U.S. lawmakers and members of key congressional committees. The Indian delegation engaged senators from the Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, including Jim Risch, Mark Warner, John Cornyn, and Elissa Slotkin.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani delegation also held high-level meetings with influential U.S. representatives, pushing for a more nuanced and equitable understanding of South Asia’s shifting geopolitical dynamics.
As the diplomatic outreach continues, the core issues—Kashmir, terrorism, and water rights—remain unresolved. However, the back-to-back engagements signal a renewed urgency on both sides to shape narratives, seek influence, and avert a potential crisis that could have global consequences.
