India confirms plan to cut off river water to Pakistan

India has confirmed its intention to deprive Pakistan of water from rivers originating in India, intensifying a long-standing dispute over water sharing. Indian Water Minister CR Patil stated unequivocally that "not a drop of water will flow" to Pakistan in the coming years, adding that India is "actively working on it" under the "directive" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This confirmation comes after Pakistan's Foreign Ministry last week accused New Delhi of undertaking two development projects on the Chenab River basin that would affect its downstream flow. Pakistan views these projects as India weaponizing water, warning of dangerous consequences for regional stability and international peace and security. Islamabad maintains that any attempt to alter the flow of these rivers would be considered an "act of war."

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It is obvious, not a drop of water will flow (to Pakistan) in the coming years.

The dispute is rooted in the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which divides control over six rivers flowing from the Indian Himalayas into Pakistan. India controls the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej), while Pakistan controls the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab), which account for 80% of the basin's total water volume. Last year, India suspended its participation in the treaty and announced its intention to "cut off water" to Pakistan following an attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people and was attributed to Islamabad. This led to a severe military confrontation between the two nuclear powers.

In May, Pakistan's national power company announced plans to build a tunnel diverting Chenab basin waters to the Beas basin. While experts note that existing Indian dams cannot fully block or divert water flowing to Pakistan, they can regulate its flow. The current escalation signals a significant deterioration in relations between the two South Asian neighbors.

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These projects confirm that India wants to weaponize the issue of water.