After the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 people, India has taken strict steps, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty, which has caused a strong reaction in Pakistan. Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said at a public meeting on the banks of the Indus River in Sukkur, “The Indus is ours, it will remain ours. Either water will flow in this river, or the blood of Indians!” He called India’s unilateral decision illegal and against humanity and threatened to raise the issue on the international stage. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also said that the water blockade is considered a ‘declaration of war’.

Pakistan’s internal politics have also heated up due to India’s move. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Army Chief Asim Munir inaugurated the Cholistan Canal project in February, which sparked controversy in Sindh province. After the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, Shahbaz Sharif decided to stop the project after discussions with Bilawal. “Indus is the lifeline for Pakistan’s agriculture and hydropower. Damaging the water could destroy Pakistan’s economy and social stability,” said analyst Abdul Basit. 80% of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on the water of this river.

The Pahalgam attack, in which terrorists shot tourists asking about their religion, has further soured India-Pakistan relations. India has taken steps such as closing the Attari border, cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens and reducing the number of ambassadors. Bilawal’s threat of war is complicating the South Asian peace process. The treaty, signed in 1960 under the mediation of the World Bank, has survived despite wars and tensions. Now its future is uncertain.