Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recently stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clear message to Pakistan by putting the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance.
Khatar recently visited the Salal Hydel Project and also conducted an aerial survey of the Sawalkot project. After assessing the progress of work on both the projects, Khattar made it clear no objection of Pakistan will be entertained for carrying out work on hydel projects on Chenab and Indus basins and the water will be used for benefit of the people.
The Indust Water Treaty was put in abeyance soon after the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people, mostly tourists dead.
After ‘Operation Sindoor,’ which was conducted to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, the work on hydel projects on Chenab and Indus basins has been fast tracked. The message is clear that Pakistan won’t be allowed to get any benefit from our waters.
The brutality of the Pahalgam terror attack shocked the nation and once again exposed Pakistan’s continued use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. In such a context, continuing with business-as-usual arrangements was neither morally defensible nor strategically wise. As Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly asserted, “blood and water cannot flow together,” a sentiment that now finds concrete expression in policy.
Khattar’s visit to the Salal Hydel Project and his aerial survey of the Sawalkot project were not merely routine inspections. They were powerful political and strategic statements. His declaration that no objections from Pakistan will be entertained regarding hydel projects on the Chenab and Indus basins reflects India’s determination to fully utilise its rightful share of water resources. For too long, developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir faced delays due to external objections and internal caution. That era appears to have ended decisively.
The line has been drawn and it very much clear that India will no longer allow its generosity to be exploited. Water, like any national resource, must serve national interests.
Ultimately, the government’s stance represents a blend of moral clarity and strategic assertiveness. By linking national security with resource utilisation, India has drawn a red line. The Indus waters will now flow primarily for the benefit of the people of India, particularly those in Jammu and Kashmir, reaffirming that peace and cooperation cannot coexist with terror. |
