Pakistan Minister: 'We'll Cut Off Hands' Over Indus Waters Amid Treaty Suspension

Pakistan's Climate Change Minister, Musadik Malik, has made strong remarks over the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that Pakistan will take action against any attempt to deprive it of its water share. Speaking at a press conference, Malik said, 'If anyone lays a hand over our share of water, we'll cut off that hand.' The comments come weeks after India suspended the treaty following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Malik accused India of controlling Pakistan's water supply, claiming that the Indian prime minister had said he would not let a drop of water flow into Pakistan. He noted that agriculture supports 40-50 per cent of Pakistan's population, and any disruption would threaten food security, employment, and the economy.

The minister asserted that Pakistan has already declared that anyone trying to deprive it of water would face severe consequences. He questioned whether upper riparian states have the right to stop water flow to lower riparian states, even under a treaty. Pakistan's Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, also spoke at the press conference, insisting that the Indus Waters Treaty remains legally binding and cannot be unilaterally suspended, revoked, or amended.

India placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir in 2025, which killed 25 tourists and a local. The Indian government has stated that the treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan takes verifiable action against cross-border terrorism. The treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the distribution of waters from the Indus River and its tributaries.

The remarks from Pakistani officials highlight the ongoing tensions over water sharing, with both sides maintaining their positions. India has indicated it intends to fully utilise its share of Indus waters, while Pakistan warns of consequences if its share is affected.