Pakistan has strongly condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent threats to deny Pakistan its rightful share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), labeling the remarks as reckless and provocative.
Modi’s declaration that Pakistan “will not get water from the rivers which India owns” followed India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty in April, which Islamabad termed an “act of war.”
Pakistan’s Attorney General, Mansoor Usman Awan, emphasized that the treaty remains legally binding, warning India that any violations would be “at their own peril.” The IWT, brokered in 1960, allocates the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers to Pakistan, which are vital for 80% of its agriculture and hydropower needs.
India’s Aggressive Moves Threaten Regional Stability
India’s plans to expand water infrastructure, including doubling the flow of the Ranbir Canal on the Chenab River, have been denounced by Pakistan as “water warfare.” Power Minister Awais Leghari asserted that Islamabad will defend its rights through all legal and political means, stressing that the IWT cannot be unilaterally revoked. Legal experts in Pakistan highlight that the treaty mandates international arbitration for disputes, a path Islamabad is prepared to pursue. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military leadership, during the 270th Corps Commanders’ Conference, resolved to “decimate undesirable elements” destabilizing the country, accusing India of sponsoring terrorism through proxies.
Ceasefire Holds, But Trust Remains Elusive
Despite Modi’s inflammatory rhetoric, the U.S.-brokered ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) remains intact, with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar claiming no recent cross-border violence. However, Pakistan’s armed forces linked a May 21 suicide blast in Khuzdar, Balochistan—which killed three children—to Indian-backed militants, accusing New Delhi of exporting terror to mask its failures in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to resist coercion, stating, “Our resolve for sovereignty remains unshaken.”
Broader Implications for South Asia
Modi’s threats and India’s treaty violations underscore a broader strategy to weaponize water resources, exacerbating existential threats to Pakistan’s food security and economy. Islamabad has consistently exposed New Delhi’s attempts to destabilize the region, including its illegal annexation of IIOJK and support for separatist violence. As Pakistan mobilizes international legal forums to uphold the IWT, analysts warn that India’s actions risk plunging South Asia into deeper conflict, with water scarcity emerging as a flashpoint in an already volatile region.