Bilawal backs defense budget hike, warns of Indian war threats

Amid rising regional tensions, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who recently led a high-level parliamentary delegation at the United Nations, threw his weight behind the federal government’s decision to increase defense spending on Monday, citing recent threats from India and growing instability in the Middle East.

Islamabad recently announced a nearly 20% hike in defense spending in its federal budget for fiscal year 2025–26, following a sharp escalation in military tensions with India in May.

The four-day standoff saw both sides exchange missiles, artillery fire and drone strikes along the Line of Control and the international border. Pakistan claimed it had shot down six Indian fighter jets and one unmanned aerial vehicle during the clashes.

A ceasefire was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, which Pakistan welcomed. But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Operation Sindoor—launched after deadly attacks on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir—was only paused, not ended.

'Necessary step'

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Bilawal said the hike in the defense budget was a “necessary step” given India’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric.

“Due to India’s recent threats claiming ‘this was just a trailer’ and warning Pakistan to prepare for full-scale war, increasing the defense budget is a necessary step,” Bilawal said.

He added that Pakistan’s response so far had been “firm and clear.”

“This time, Pakistan did not bow, did not retreat — and responded effectively,” he said, referencing military actions that included the downing of Indian aircraft and assertive diplomacy.

He also warned that India’s alleged threat to block Pakistan’s water supply would amount to an act of war. “If India tries to stop our water, we will be forced to fight for all six rivers,” Bilawal said, vowing to defend Pakistan’s water rights.

Condemns Israeli strikes on Iran

Bilawal also turned his focus to the Middle East, strongly condemning Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.

“Attacks on nuclear sites cannot be tolerated,” he said. “If Iran's nuclear facilities had been damaged, the consequences would have extended beyond its borders, threatening the entire region including Pakistan.”

He labeled the strikes “illegal and dangerous,” warning of broader instability.

Conditional support for budget

Bilawal reaffirmed his party’s conditional support for the federal budget, praising Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for tackling inflation but calling for reforms in non-combat expenditures.

“While I personally wish to see cuts in non-combat spending, the current geopolitical situation requires extraordinary decisions in extraordinary times,” he said.

Touts diplomatic victories

Bilawal credited Pakistan’s diplomatic and military leadership for achieving key foreign policy wins.

“Our ambassadors and the Foreign Office deserve applause,” he said. “India tried to have Pakistan declared a terrorist state and blocked from receiving IMF funds — but we prevailed.”

He cited Pakistan’s chairmanship of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee as an example of growing international confidence.

He also highlighted Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s recent visit to the United States, saying, “He wasn’t just invited — he was hosted for lunch. That’s a diplomatic win.”

Calls for agriculture emergency

The PPP chairman criticized the government’s handling of the agriculture sector, accusing it of failing farmers under pressure from the International Monetary Fund.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and this government is breaking that backbone,” he said.

Bilawal alleged that provinces were barred from setting support prices or buying wheat, resulting in billions of rupees in losses for farmers.

He demanded that the federal government declare an “Agriculture Emergency” to stabilize the sector.