PM Narendra Modi declared in a speech in Rajasthan on Thursday, April 22, that Pakistan would no longer receive water from rivers over which India has rights, intensifying the India-Pakistan water dispute. This statement was made following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 innocent lives.
India suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty and accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack. Tensions have since escalated between the nuclear-armed neighbors, despite their recent agreement on a tenuous ceasefire following the most devastating military conflict in nearly three decades.
PM Modi Sends Bold Message to Pakistan
PM Modi gives a strong warning while speaking in Rajasthan, Pakistan must pay a heavy price for every terror strike. He said, “Pakistan’s economy and army will pay for it.” A month after the April 22 attack, which primarily killed Hindu tourists, the harsh remarks were made.
Bikaner, Rajasthan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “…If Pakistan continues to export terrorists, it will be left begging for every penny. Pakistan will not get a single drop of water that belongs to India. Playing with the blood of Indians will cost Pakistan dearly. This is… pic.twitter.com/7ftbYBj9hM
— IANS (@ians_india) May 22, 2025
India accuses Pakistan of supporting the attack, a charge Islamabad vehemently disputes.
Indus Waters Treaty Suspension Adds Fuel
An important turning point was India’s decision to halt the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which was mediated by the World Bank. Nearly 80% of Pakistan’s farms are supported by water from three rivers that originate in India, thanks to the treaty.
The long-term effects of the suspension are still unknown, despite Pakistan’s Finance Minister’s assertion that there would be no immediate harm.
On May 10, both countries agreed to a ceasefire despite recent military escalations. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar affirmed that forces have repositioned and that there is currently no exchange.
However, he issued a warning that India will continue its operations. “We will hit the terrorists where they are if they are in Pakistan,” Jaishankar said in an interview with the Dutch news agency NOS.
Long History of Conflict Over Kashmir
Since gaining independence in 1947, India and Pakistan have clashed quite often. They fought three wars, two of which were over Kashmir. Although both nations control some areas of the region, they both fully claim it. Islamabad is still being accused by New Delhi of harboring Islamist militants. However, Pakistan denies supporting separatists in Kashmir.
After the attack in Kashmir, India isolated Pakistan in several ways. These include halting visa services, halting trade, and closing land borders. Now, Islamabad is under even more stress because of Modi’s water threat.
The growing animosity highlights the fleeting peace between India and Pakistan. With trade, diplomacy, and water at stake, the region closely monitors the escalating tensions.
