India has held the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack. This move has triggered panic in Islamabad. PM Sharif is now urging Pakistan’s provinces to act fast and build up water storage, especially the long-stuck Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
Sharif’s emergency mode: Dams, deadlines, and drama
In an address from Peshawar Corps HQ, PM Sharif admitted the crisis. He asked provinces to urgently boost water storage to manage India’s move. His top priority? Speeding up the Diamer-Bhasha Dam — a mega project stuck in limbo since the 1980s.
The dam, if completed, could store massive amounts of water and power hydro-electric plants. But here’s the kicker: Pakistan’s own government is cutting water sector funds from Rs 135 billion to Rs 109 billion this year. So, Sharif wants to build a dam… with less money. Go figure.
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India’s tough message: No water talks until terror stops
The suspension followed the April 22 Pahalgam attack, blamed on Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy The Resistance Front. In response, PM Modi declared:
“Paani aur khoon ek saath nahi beh sakta.” (Water and blood can’t flow together.)
India has now stopped sharing flood warnings and seasonal irrigation updates, which were crucial for Pakistan’s water planning during the Kharif and Rabi seasons.
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The deeper irony
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, was once seen as a model of cooperation. Even during wars, it stood firm. But terrorism changes the math. As India flushes its dams and flexes its hydropower plans, Pakistan is left scrambling—with no reservoir, no budget, and no real plan.
Reality check: You can’t build a dam on denial
The truth is, Pakistan has ignored warnings for years. It stores less than 30 days’ worth of water—one of the lowest in the world. Now, with India turning off the tap and turning up the pressure, Islamabad has no choice but to act.
Or stall. Again.
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