Indus water flow halt continues to rattle terror-backer Pakistan; PM Sharif issues fresh warning to India

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif  on Tuesday warned India stating that Pakistan  will teach it a lesson it will never forget, if India attempt to stop the flow of water into Pakistan in violation of the Indus Water Treaty.

Rattled by India’s suspension of Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan Prime Minister said that the move will be met with a “decisive response”.

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Speaking at an event in Islamabad, he declared, “The enemy [India] will not be able to take even a single drop of water from Pakistan.” He warned, “You threatened to cut off our water supply. If you try, Pakistan will respond with a lesson you will never forget.” Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed that water is vital for Pakistan’s survival and the country will not compromise its rights as guaranteed under international agreements, according to Geo News.

After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April, which resulted in 26 deaths, India, exercising its sovereign rights under international law, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) until Pakistan firmly and permanently ends its support for cross-border terrorism.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 after nearly a decade of negotiations facilitated by the World Bank, is regarded as one of the most enduring and successful international water-sharing agreements. Former World Bank President Eugene Black played a key role in initiating the talks. Despite ongoing conflicts and tensions, the treaty has provided a stable framework for irrigation and hydropower development for more than fifty years.

Former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower once called it “a bright spot in a generally bleak global landscape.” Under the treaty, the western rivers—the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—are allocated to Pakistan, while India receives rights over the eastern rivers—the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. However, each country is allowed limited use of the rivers allocated to the other. India is entitled to 20% of the Indus River System’s waters, with Pakistan receiving the remaining 80%.

The treaty came under renewed scrutiny after the 2019 Pulwama attack. Critics argue that the agreement has been too favorable to Pakistan, despite its continued support for terrorism against India.