Northlines Newsdesk
Khawaja Asif, the Defence Minister of Pakistan on Sunday threatened India, by stating that Islamabad could resort to military action if it feels any threat to its water flow amid escalating tensions over the Indus waters dispute.
His statement came as Pakistan continues to face a deteriorating water issues, nearly a year after India suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty in response to the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam after identifying their faith.
Speaking to a Pakistani channel, ARY News, Asif warned that Pakistan would respond militarily if it felt its water supplies were being threatened.
“The water is part of our national security and if it is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely,” he said.
He further added that Islamabad could take action if there was evidence of India moving “at an alarming speed” to restrict or alter water flows.
His comments followed a video clip of India’s Jal Shakti minister CR Patil, who suggested that the flow of Indus waters to Pakistan could be fully stopped by June 2028.
The statement has added to already heightened tensions between the two neighbours over river-sharing arrangements.
Indus Waters Treaty at centre of fresh strain
Relations deteriorated sharply after the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. In response, India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, stating the move would remain in effect until Pakistan ends support for cross-border terrorism.
The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, allocates around 80 per cent of the Indus basin waters to Pakistan, making it vital for the country’s agriculture-dependent economy.
