Asaduddin Owaisi, the big boss of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), had a bone to pick with Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. He didn’t hold back in criticising him for his “blood would flow in rivers” comment, reminding him of his mother, Benazir Bhutto’s, tragic death at the hands of some local terrorists. Owaisi didn’t stop there; he also took a swipe at former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, calling him a “joker” for his remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 innocent tourists dead. The Hyderabad MP didn’t mince words when he suggested that Pakistan should be put on the ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and even proposed launching cyber attacks against the neighbouring nation.
When the topic of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s statement against India after it withdrew from the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) came up, Owaisi didn’t hold back. He pointed out that Bhutto-Zardari should be questioning who was really behind his mother’s tragic demise, making it clear that she was killed by those same homegrown terrorists he’s supporting. Following India’s suspension of the IWT, Bhutto-Zardari boldly declared that the Indus belonged to them and would remain so, even if it meant bloodshed. Owaisi, in response, expressed his party’s support for the Centre’s decision to suspend the treaty but raised concerns about where the water from the Indus River would be stored now. According to him, “It has to be stored somewhere.”
Under the World Bank-brokered treaty, India had exclusive rights to the water of the eastern rivers, while the water of the western rivers was mostly allocated to Pakistan. With the treaty now on hold, the government is exploring ways to utilise the water from the western rivers. Owaisi stressed that Pakistan’s financing of terrorism through illegal channels should land them on the FATF grey list and even suggested launching cyber attacks based on Article 51 of the UN Charter for self-defence purposes.
Not stopping there, Owaisi urged the Narendra Modi government to reconsider its deterrent policy, especially in light of recent attacks like the one in Pahalgam. Emphasising India’s superiority in defence budget and technology, he made it clear that Pakistan was way behind and should stop the empty rhetoric. He also questioned the provisions of the Waqf Amendment Act, particularly the inclusion of non-Muslims on Waqf boards. In a rather sarcastic tone, he asked if it would make sense to have non-Hindus on the Pandharpur temple trust board.
Owaisi didn’t shy away from expressing his opinions and concerns, even if they rubbed some people the wrong way. His bold statements and strong stance on national security issues sent a clear message to both Pakistan and the Indian government. As the leader of AIMIM, he made it known that he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and stand up for what he believed in. In a time of uncertainty and tension between the two nations, Owaisi’s words carried weight and sparked conversations about the future of Indo-Pak relations. Whether you agree with him or not, one thing is for sure – Asaduddin Owaisi isn’t one to back down from a fight, especially when it comes to defending his country and its interests.
