Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari issued a stark warning on Monday, stating that the world’s silence on Israeli aggression against Iran risks escalating the conflict to a global scale.

Speaking during a National Assembly session, Bilawal invoked Pastor Martin Niemöller’s poem, stating: “First, they came for the Palestinians, but the world did not speak out because they weren’t Palestinian. Then they came for the Lebanese, but we did not speak out because we were not Lebanese. And then they came for the Yemenis, but we did not speak out because we’re not from Yemen. Now, they’ve come for Iran. If we do not speak out, there will be no one left when they come for us.”

He described Israel’s actions as a genocidal regime and warned that its expanding aggression has the potential to “drag everyone towards World War III”. Bilawal’s comments come amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, following Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The PPP chairman highlighted Pakistan’s recent military and diplomatic successes against India, claiming victory “on the battlefield, in diplomacy, and in the war of narratives.” He stated that Pakistan’s narrative—that regional instability is not in the interest of either Pakistan or India—has gained global traction. He contrasted this with the previous government’s response to a 2019 Indian attack on Kashmir, stating: “India launched an attack on Kashmir, but the then prime minister responded by saying, ‘What do you expect me to do, go to war with India?'”

Bilawal also addressed the Indus Waters Treaty, declaring India’s suspension of it “illegal” and warning that any attempt to block Pakistan’s water supply would trigger another war. He asserted: “If India violates the treaty and diverts rivers or builds dams, Pakistan will go to war. We will secure the waters of all six rivers for our nation.” He further accused India of attempting to portray Pakistan as a terrorist state, an effort he claimed had failed. The speech was punctuated by disruptions from opposition members, which Bilawal dismissed, stating: “Mr speaker, please ignore them. The public already has.”