The recent threats from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards Pakistan have further escalated tensions in the region. His statement, “Blood and water cannot flow together,” is a clear attack on the Indus Waters Treaty.This treaty was brokered by the World Bank between Pakistan and India in 1960 to ensure the fair distribution of the Indus River’s waters. Under the treaty, the waters of the three western rivers were allocated to Pakistan, while the three eastern rivers were assigned to India.The Indus Waters Treaty is the backbone of Pakistan’s sovereignty and economy. As an agricultural country, Pakistan’s agriculture is heavily dependent on river water. Any attempt by India to annul this treaty could become a matter of life and death for Pakistan.
This is why the Prime Minister of Pakistan has called Modi’s statement a declaration of war. He stated that even after losing six fighter jets, Modi’s government seems restless and now seeks to drag the region into a conflict to cover its embarrassment.
Modi’s government must understand that this treaty is not just a document but a guarantee of peace between the two countries. Any attempt by India to break the treaty could further escalate tensions between the two nations, pushing the region towards a major conflict. If India continues its stubbornness, Pakistan may be forced to go to any extent to protect its sovereignty.Pakistan views this treaty as essential to its security, and any violation of it is considered a threat to its existence. This is justified because no country in the world can maintain its sovereignty without water. Modi’s threats to Pakistan are baseless because, after facing humiliation at the hands of Pakistan, India is now a subject of global ridicule. Despite acquiring the latest fighter jets from France, Indian pilots failed to defend their country.Meanwhile, the Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s accusation of Pakistan losing or mismanaging nuclear material is nothing but negative propaganda. It is inappropriate for India to spread baseless rumors about Pakistan’s nuclear assets while addressing international energy organizations, especially given that India has a history of incidents where nuclear material was either stolen or left unprotected.
Modi’s government must understand that this treaty is not just a document but a guarantee of peace between the two countries.
International media have reported several instances of radioactive material theft in India, exposing its poor safety policies. In contrast, Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state with its nuclear assets fully secure and compliant with international standards. Even the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that there have been no reports of nuclear leakage or misuse in Pakistan – a clear slap on India’s face.India must remember that Pakistan’s nuclear program is a guarantee of its sovereignty and security. It is purely defensive and provides strong protection against any aggression. As long as Pakistan possesses nuclear capability, India cannot threaten it.This nuclear capability is a critical part of Pakistan’s defense system and maintains the balance of power in the region. Pakistan now needs to effectively counter India on the diplomatic front, as the armed forces have already fulfilled their duty of defending the country. It is now the responsibility of the civilian government to stand firmly against the enemy on diplomatic grounds because the cancellation of the Indus Waters Treaty would not only damage Pakistan’s agricultural economy but also endanger regional peace.
Pakistan must highlight this issue on the international stage so that the global community becomes aware of India’s intentions. It should strengthen its diplomatic strategy to effectively respond to India’s allegations and threats.
On international forums, the importance of the Indus Waters Treaty and the potential consequences of its violation should be made clear. Pakistan must also convince its friendly countries that India’s breach of the treaty poses a threat to regional peace. Moreover, Pakistan should strengthen its internal economic and agricultural policies to counter any water aggression from India.Developing modern irrigation systems, building water reservoirs, and promoting the prudent use of water are essential for Pakistan. Violations of the Indus Waters Treaty or baseless allegations against Pakistan’s nuclear program reflect India’s warlike mindset and conspiracies against Pakistan. Pakistan should wisely and diplomatically counter these threats to expose India’s true intentions to the world.
The writer is an old Aitchisonian who believes in freedom of expression, a freelance columnist, entrepreneur and social activist.