Pakistan threatens India with war over water crisis

Pakistan's defense minister, Khawaja Asif, has issued a stark warning of war against India concerning water security. This declaration follows India's assertion that its decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remains unchanged. The treaty's suspension is a consequence of a Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, which resulted in 26 fatalities.

Asif's statement arrives as the Pakistani government grapples with significant domestic instability and a critical internal water crisis, which experts attribute to severe mismanagement. Speaking to ARY News, Asif declared, "The moment we feel that our national security, and water is part of our national security, is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely." He further indicated that military action would be considered if Islamabad found evidence of India acting rapidly to disrupt water supplies.

India has maintained its stance on the treaty's suspension, stating it will remain in effect until Pakistan takes credible action to dismantle its cross-border terror infrastructure. While the World Bank-brokered treaty historically allocates 80% of the Indus water basin to Pakistan for agriculture, the nation's current resource mismanagement has left its farmlands vulnerable.

Khawaja Asif accused India of "weaponizing water," manipulating the Chenab River flows, and withholding data. However, he admitted to lacking current information on developments over the past year, despite claims of Pakistani teams conducting numerous inspections. Meanwhile, Pakistan's own internal failures in water resource management are evident, with a severe crisis impacting nearly a third of its population, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. Official data reveals failing infrastructure, with significant deficits reported in key canals and collapsing water levels at the Sukkur Barrage, prompting local leaders to warn of an "economic massacre."

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The moment we feel that our national security, and water is part of our national security, is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely.