“Now blood and water will not flow together;” Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat made a strong statement following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, declaring that “blood and water will no longer flow together from India.” He clarified that the government has decided to stop the flow of Indus River water to Pakistan.
Speaking to the media in Jaipur, he said, “Whether it was the war of 1965, the 1971 battle, or the Kargil conflict, India has always respected the Indus Water Treaty. But after Pakistan’s repeated acts of terrorism, a firm decision has now been made.”
Shekhawat added, “This is not just a shift in water policy, but a strong message to Pakistan. It will break their economic backbone. The nation is grieving and angry at the same time.”
As a retaliatory diplomatic move, India on Wednesday suspended the Indus Water Treaty and announced a downgrade in diplomatic ties with Pakistan, including the expulsion of its military attachés, in light of cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with top security officials that evening to decide how India would respond to the terror attack.
Following the CCS meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs briefed about the measures taken by the CCS acknowledging the seriousness of the terrorist attack. Among several measures, it stated: “The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.”
