PM Modi announces India has cut off the water supply to Pakistan
- 17GEN4
- May 6
- 3 min read
India Signals Major Shift in Water Policy with PM Modi's Stern Message to Pakistan
NEW DELHI, May 6, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a pointed message to Pakistan on Tuesday, declaring that India’s water resources will now be exclusively used for its own interests, signaling a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two nations. The statement comes days after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement that has governed water-sharing between the nuclear-armed neighbors, in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Speaking at the ABP Network’s India@2047 Summit, Modi emphasized a shift in India’s water diplomacy, stating, “Earlier, even the water that rightfully belonged to India was flowing out. Now, India’s water will flow for India’s benefit, it will be conserved for India’s benefit, and it will be used for India’s progress.” The remarks, reported by NDTV, were a clear reference to the suspension of the treaty, which has ensured water supply to 80% of Pakistan’s farms. Modi’s government has already taken concrete steps, partially closing the Baglihar and Salal dams on the Chenab River to restrict water flow to Pakistan, according to The Economic Times.
The decision to freeze the treaty followed the Pahalgam attack, which India attributes to Pakistan-backed militants, a claim Islamabad denies. The attack prompted a series of retaliatory measures, including the expulsion of Pakistani diplomats, border closures, and visa cancellations for Pakistani nationals. Reuters reported that the treaty’s suspension allows India to pursue hydropower projects in Kashmir, with work already underway to boost reservoir capacities at the Salal and Baglihar projects. This marks the first time India has operated outside the treaty’s framework since its inception, a move Pakistan has called an “act of war,” threatening international legal action.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, allocates the eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—to India, while the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—largely go to Pakistan. India’s share is about 20% of the total water, but it has historically underutilized its quota, allowing excess water to flow to Pakistan. Modi’s statement reflects a broader push to fully harness this share, a sentiment echoed in his earlier remarks in 2016 after the Uri attack, when he said, “Blood and water cannot flow together,” as noted by India Today.
Pakistan’s economy, heavily reliant on the Indus system for irrigation, faces severe risks from India’s actions. Experts estimate that 90% of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on these waters, and farmers like Homla Thakhur in Sindh have expressed fears of their lands turning into a desert, according to Reuters. Pakistan’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to Modi’s latest remarks, but Islamabad has previously warned that any attempt to divert its water share would be seen as a hostile act.
The international community has urged restraint, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasizing the need to avoid a military confrontation that could “easily spin out of control,” as reported by Reuters. The U.S. has also called for a “responsible solution,” though analysts note that Washington’s closer ties with India may limit its influence over New Delhi’s actions.
Critics of Modi’s policy argue that while the move strengthens India’s strategic position, it risks further destabilizing the region. The suspension of the treaty, combined with India’s recent missile strikes on alleged terrorist sites in Pakistan, has heightened fears of escalation. Pakistan’s military conducted missile tests in recent days, and India is set to hold civil defense drills on May 7, indicating both nations are preparing for potential conflict.
As India moves to redirect its water resources, the long-term implications for Pakistan’s agriculture and India-Pakistan relations remain uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Modi’s message marks a bold assertion of India’s intent to prioritize national interests, even at the cost of deepening an already fraught rivalry.
Sources: NDTV, The Economic Times, Reuters, India Today
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