Due to Pakistan’s constant support to terrorism in India, the Indian government finally suspended the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) last year after Operation Sindoor. The move really hurt Pakistan as they were reliant on India releasing water to the downstream areas in Pakistan under this treaty. However, Indian stand was clear that blood and water can’t flow together.
Following India’s decision, several politicians in Pakistan issued all kinds of threatening statements against India, and now Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has reignited those tensions.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a warning to India over the future of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), and threatened they will pursue military action against India if they continue to keep the treaty suspended.
The treaty, signed in 1960 with the mediation of the World Bank, governs the sharing of water from the Indus river system. Under the agreement, India received rights over the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while Pakistan was granted rights over the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Khawaja Asif’s statement suggest that Pakistan is feeling the heat after India suspended the treaty. Even though Pakistan has refused to show any inclination towards stopping its support to terror groups, Pakistan’s Defence Minister continues to blame India for the treaty being in abeyance.
Notably, Pakistan’s agriculture, economy, and water security depend heavily on the Indus river system. Any perception that this water flow could be disrupted triggers alarm in Islamabad. However, they are still unwilling to address Indian concerns about terror groups operating from Pakistani soil.
Maybe instead of threatening India with war, Pakistan’s Defence Minister should do something about these terror groups that operate with impunity from Pakistan.
