Indians on social media cheer and celebrate the dangerous remark by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah as he claimed India would not revive the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
The IWT, signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan as a water-sharing agreement, had long stood as a rare symbol of peace between two nuclear neighbours.
The declaration has sent alarm bells ringing across the region, with experts warning of dangerous escalation.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking to The Times of India, arrogantly confirmed that India had no intention of restoring the treaty, saying bluntly, “No, it will never be restored.”
“We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably,” Shah said, referring to the northwestern Indian state.
Experts have warned that no country can weaponize natural resources such as water without pushing the region into extreme instability.
After the Pahalgam incident, India announced a unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which contravenes international law.
The National Security Committee chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, with the attendance of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other top civil and military leaders, took place at the PM House in Islamabad.
The NSC in April clearly outlined that any attempt to “stop, disturb, or divert Pakistan’s waters will be considered as an act of war.”
The high-level meeting also stated that Pakistan would respond with full spectrum of state power.
Even though Pakistan invited India to conduct an international investigation into the Pahalgam incident, the Modi-led government continued to be the aggressor.
After facing a humiliating defeat under Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the recent statements by Amit Shah are only to distract the Indian public from its failures.
Jingoist Indian netizens celebrate Amit Shah’s statement as if Pakistan would allow its lifeline to be threatened.
In fact, PPP Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto recently warned India to honour the Indus Waters Treaty. He said, “If India refuses, then Pakistan will fight another war – and this time, all six rivers will belong to Pakistan.”
Addressing supporters, he said India tried to defeat Pakistan on the diplomatic front after losing militarily. However, he assured that Pakistan won the diplomatic battle too, as global media supported Pakistan’s narrative.
