Water Is Not Going Anywhere, IWT Stays Suspended: Jal Shakti Minister

Jal Shakti minister CR Paatil on Thursday rejected Pakistan’s repeated letters asking India to lift the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). This comes in response to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s threat on Monday, to go to war with India if water under IWT is denied.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the leader of Pakistan People's Party. He rejected India's move to suspend the treaty and warned of retaliation during Pakistan's Parliamentary session on Monday. “India has two options: share water fairly, or we will deliver water to us from all six rivers,” he said, referring to the Indus basin. He added, “If India goes ahead, we will have to wage war again.”

“The water under the Indus Waters Treaty is not going anywhere, he (Bilawal Bhutto) also spoke of blood and water flowing, but we are not scared of such empty threats,” Paatil said at a press conference. He added Bhutto often makes such statements for “political reasons”.

India had suspended the 1960 agreement, on April 23, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that took place a day earlier on April 22. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced last week that the historic treaty would not be restored. Paatil’s comments in the press conference reaffirm India’s stance.

Bilawal accused India of “weaponising terrorism for political purposes” and claimed that during his foreign visits, it was clear India had lobbied hard to undo Pakistan’s progress on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) front. “If India and Pakistan refuse to talk, and there is no coordination on terrorism, violence will only rise in both countries,” he said.

India has formally requested a pause in proceedings related to disputes over the Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects. It looks to take full control of its western river systems under the Indus Waters Treaty. The World Bank has not yet responded to India’s request.