Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, May 3: India’s decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam should be seen as a powerful warning to Pakistan, said John Bolton, former US National Security Advisor and key aide to President Donald Trump, in an exclusive interview on Saturday.
“It should be a message to Pakistan that engaging in activities that threaten their neighbours do lead to consequences,” said Bolton, who served as NSA from 2018 to 2019. While expressing hope for a peaceful resolution between the two nations on the critical issue of water sharing, he cautioned that outdated arrangements may need reevaluation in light of changing circumstances.
Bolton's comments come in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, including by two terrorists from Pakistan. The attack has further cemented India's position that Pakistan acts as a breeding ground for global terrorism and regional instability.
“If their activity warrants it, they should be punished. The Pakistani government has failed to control its territory effectively, which gives India both the right and the justification to act militarily, without it necessarily being seen as an attack on Pakistan itself,” Bolton remarked.
He also stressed the need for stronger counterterrorism cooperation between India and the United States. “With terrorism being a growing threat in the region, deeper Indo-US cooperation is vital and justified,” he said, citing a long history of attacks endured by India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Pakistan’s track record, Bolton noted the country’s extended stay on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list and its persistent backing of terror networks. “Pakistan has been on the watch list several times. If new evidence surfaces, stronger steps should be taken. The US has always opposed state-sponsored terrorism, given our own experiences,” he added.
Bolton's remarks are likely to bolster India’s international position as it tightens the diplomatic noose around Pakistan following repeated terror provocations.