After the Indian government unilaterally suspended the historic Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and announced plans to block Pakistan’s water supply, a question arises in everyone’s mind: Is it possible to stop water from flowing into Pakistan through various rivers? Does India have the capability to immediately and completely stop Pakistan’s water?
Syed Muhammad Ali, a Pakistani expert on defense, security, and strategic affairs, has said that Indian cannot immediately stop water supply to Pakistan. In a program on digital media platform ‘Nukta’, he further said that Pakistan will not allow India to stop the water at any cost.
“ By suspending the Indus Water Treaty, India has formally announced the war against Pakistan, but when it will physically stop or divert Pakistan’s water at any location, base, or instrument, Pakistan will target and neutralize it,” he said while answering a question from the host, Kamran Khan.
He added that Pakistan is ready and also has the full capability to thwart any Indian act to stop or divert its water. “Water is red line for Pakistan,” he maintained.
In response to a question, he stated that Pakistan has never promised it would refrain from being the first to use the nuclear option; it has only said that it will not be the first to resort to aggression.
Is should be noted that India on Wednesday suspended the Indus Water Treaty, a day after the killing of at least 26 tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The Indus Water Treaty is a water-sharing agreement between Pakistan and India, facilitated by the World Bank. It gives India control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) of the Indus basin while it gives Pakistan authority over the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab).
