Blood and water cannot flow together,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan in 2016. At the time, Kashmir was witnessing heightened terrorist activity. Pakistan seemed to ignore those warnings—but now it is facing the consequences.
“Today from the soil of Bihar I say to the whole world. India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth,” Prime Minister Modi declared after the Pahalgam attack—his first and final warning delivered from Madhubani.
Victory in war isn’t just about defeating the enemy with missiles and bombs. Real defeat is when the enemy lives the rest of their life in humiliation and fear. This is the kind of treatment PM Modi has now planned for Pakistan. The withdrawal from the Indus Water Treaty is akin to dropping a nuclear bomb on Pakistan. Half of Pakistan is already suffering from drought. Agricultural productivity is plummeting. The country is in a severe economic crisis, with inflation at record highs. One US dollar equals 281 Pakistani rupees, soon to cross 300. Petrol costs PKR 260.96 per litre, diesel PKR 266.07. With India halting exports, these prices are expected to soar even further.
In addition, India has cancelled Pakistani visas and has diplomatically isolated Pakistan. The sanctions imposed by India have left Pakistan gasping for breath. Their stock market crashed after news of the Indian response broke. The Pakistani government is in a state of panic, cancelling army leaves and redeploying troops to the borders. But India’s war isn’t fought with conventional weapons—it’s fought with strategy. Not just to kill—but to defeat.
Also read: Proxy war is back in Kashmir. Pahalgam attack exposes Pakistan Army’s frustration over peace
A water bomb
Within days of the Pakistani COAS announcing support for the people of Kashmir, terrorists struck Pahalgam, shedding innocent blood in a peaceful region. The attack claimed 27 lives, and India has irrefutable evidence that the attackers came from Pakistan. One of India’s strong countermeasures is pulling out of the Indus Water Treaty—a move Pakistan considers a declaration of war. And rightly so. While it’s not a war with jets and bombs, cutting off Indus waters is equivalent to launching water-based nuclear bombs on Pakistan.
A nuclear blast affects a few kilometres. But blocking Indus water affects the entire nation of Pakistan. Since Modi’s 2016 statement, “blood and water cannot flow together,” he has made that warning a reality. Stopping the flow of Indus waters to Pakistan will have devastating consequences—agriculturally, politically, socially, and economically.
About 90 per cent of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. These waters are the lifeline of Punjab and Sindh. Without them, wheat, rice, sugarcane, and cotton production will crash. A food crisis is imminent. Pakistan’s industrial sector never really developed. About 40 per cent of its population lives below the poverty line, as per a 2023 World Bank report. If a food crisis unfolds, people will collapse like birds dropping from the sky. The power sector will also be severely impacted. Tarbela and Mangla dams rely on Indus water for hydroelectric power. If India blocks this, Pakistan will face electricity shortages, leading to industrial shutdowns.
A single “water bomb” has shaken every sector of Pakistan. According to 2019 reports, poor water management had already cut Pakistan’s GDP by 4–6 per cent. With India’s latest move, the damage will be far greater. Exports will fall as crop production collapses. Foreign reserves will dwindle. Pakistan will go crying to the international community with false sob stories. But India has already sent a strong message globally. Despite wars in 1965, 1971, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and even attacks like 26/11, Pulwama, and Balakot, India never pulled out of the Indus Water Treaty. But after the Pahalgam attack, the Modi government has finally decided to end Pakistan’s free ride.
Pakistan benefited most from this treaty—receiving 80 per cent of the water, while India got only 20 per cent. Agriculture in Pakistan depends entirely on this water. Blocking it will turn Pakistan into a desert.
The treaty, signed after the Partition of India and Pakistan, was meant to ensure mutual water usage. Under it, India was to use the eastern rivers—Beas, Ravi, Sutlej—and Pakistan the western rivers—Indus, Chenab, Jhelum. Some conditions allowed limited use of each other’s rivers, like for power generation, drinking water, and industries. The World Bank played a key role in mediating the treaty.
The international community has expressed solidarity with India. From the US to Israel, countries are backing India’s stance on terrorism. India is prepared for military action against terrorists and those harboring them. The water bomb has already been dropped. Now, India is planning strikes even if terrorists hide deep within Pakistan. And Pakistan won’t dare protest—because supporting them only makes it look more like a terrorist nation.
India has ended all trade ties with Pakistan and ordered Pakistani citizens in India to leave immediately. The hard measures taken by India have diplomatically and economically cornered Pakistan. They’re left with no option but to come crawling to the table. When Pakistan starts handing over terrorists and dismantling terror camps—then India’s mission will be complete. Prime Minister Modi is on the verge of delivering that final victory.
S. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy is Vice President, BJP Andhra Pradesh. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
I beg to differ. In the very long term, the best way to destroy your enemies is to make them your friends. That’s how after victory over Germany and Italy in the Second World War, the Allies made certain that they made friends with them. However, in the short term, we may have to face the terrorism, the conflict unleashed upon us and fight it with all the means at our disposal.
Another bjp joker spewing propaganda. Why is the Print dignifying this nonsense? Talking as if the rivers have already been blocked. Nothing has happened and it will take 20 years and billions of dollars to achieve this.
The real question BJP jokers are trying to hide is WHY were security forces conveniently missing from the major tourist spot?
BJP jokers should answer why Amit roams around with 80 vehicles full of security forces accompanying him everywhere but not even 1 security guard available for 2000 tourists?
It’s been 3 years and BJP jokers should also answer how 500 Kilo RDX was delivered to the most high security area in Pulwama?