'Either Our Water Will Flow or Their Blood': Pakistan People’s Party on Indus Water Treaty
The treaty contains no clause that explicitly allows for unilateral suspension, as reported by Business Today
'Either Our Water Will Flow or Their Blood': Pakistan People’s Party on Indus Water Treaty, latest news:
Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari issued a disturbing warning, saying, "The Indus is ours and will remain ours. Either our water will flow through it, or their blood will."
Bilawal accused India of blaming Pakistan to cover up its internal security lapses.
As posted on the party’s X handle, he said, "India has blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam incident. To hide its own weaknesses and to fool its people, Modi has made false accusations and has unilaterally decided to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, under which India had already recognized that the Indus belongs to Pakistan. Standing here by the Indus River in Sukkur, I want to tell India that the Indus is ours and will remain ours. Either the water will flow in this river, or their blood will."
He further added, "I congratulate all of you that the purpose for which Pakistan People's Party workers were protesting — from the streets to the Parliament — has been achieved: we do not approve of any new canals on the Indus. In the meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday, it was agreed that no new canal will be constructed without your consent. This is the success of a peaceful democratic struggle."
The statement comes days after India took several diplomatic measures against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 and disturbed peace within the country and between the two nations. Among the diplomatic steps, one major move was placing the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance.
Indus Water Treaty Suspension:
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 which took nine years of negotiation, has long governed the distribution of water between India and Pakistan.
After a meeting at Home Minister Amit Shah's residence, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, in a post on X in Hindi, stated, "The historic decision taken by the Modi government on the Indus Water Treaty is completely justified and in the national interest. We will ensure that not even a drop of water from the Indus River goes to Pakistan."
The suspension of the treaty with immediate effect was announced on Wednesday and formally conveyed to Pakistan on Thursday.
In a letter, India’s Water Resources Secretary Debashree Mukherjee, addressed to her Pakistani counterpart, Syed Ali Murtuza, Secretary in Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources, stated, “These communications cited fundamental changes in the circumstances that have taken place since the Treaty was executed, which require a reassessment of obligations under the various Articles of the Treaty, read with its Annexures.”
Asserting the importance of both countries adhering to the treaty in good faith — and pointing out that this was not happening — the letter further read, “The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Additionally, the letter accused Pakistan of failing to engage in dialogue,“Apart from other breaches committed by it, Pakistan has refused to respond to India’s request to enter into negotiations as envisaged under the Treaty and is thus in breach of its obligations.”
At a meeting at Home Minister Amit Shah's residence, which included Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and top officials, it was decided to implement the suspension of the treaty with immediate effect, according to a report by NDTV.
“Several long-term plans are on the table, but the priority is a plan that can serve as a blueprint for the immediate and mid-term future," the publication reported, citing officials.
In the short-term plans, the Centre is considering de-silting existing dams on the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — the three western rivers that, as per the treaty, were allocated to Pakistan. The Centre is also looking to increase reservoir capacity.
According to the report, Pakistan has been objecting to India’s Kishenganga hydroelectric project on a tributary of the Jhelum and the Ratle hydroelectric project, which is under construction on a tributary of the Chenab. Suspending the treaty allows India to bypass these objections.
Under the Indus Water Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, India has full rights over the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — while Pakistan receives about 135 million acre-feet (MAF) of water from the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Officials said a legal response is being prepared in case of pressure from the World Bank or other global bodies, and diplomatic efforts are underway to explain India’s decision internationally.
The Pakistani government, in a statement, said, "Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty will be considered an act of war and will be responded to with full force across the complete spectrum of national power."
According to experts, the suspension of the treaty would severely impact Pakistan's agriculture. Notably, the treaty contains no clause that explicitly allows for unilateral suspension, as reported by Business Today.