Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif threatened they would destroy any infrastructure that India might build to divert water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). His comments come in the wake of India’s decision to suspend the decades-old treaty, hours after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians on 22 April.
Speaking to Geo News, Asif said, “Certainly, if they attempt to build any kind of structure, we will strike it.” He added that constructing any structure on the Indus River in violation of the treaty would be considered an act of aggression by India.
“Aggression is not just about firing cannons or bullets; it has many faces. One of those faces is [blocking or diverting water], which could lead to deaths due to hunger and thirst,” Asif remarked. “If they make any architectural attempt, then Pakistan will destroy that structure,” he reiterated.
However, Asif stated that for now, Pakistan would first explore all diplomatic and legal channels, beginning with mechanisms available under the Indus Waters Treaty. He noted, “We are heading to forums available to us, starting from the IWT. We will pursue this matter.”
On India’s accusations against Pakistan, Asif said, “India is continuously inciting, but we will take only retaliatory action.”
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BJP Says Pakistan’s Defence Minister ‘Visibly Shaken’, Issuing ‘Hollow Threats’
Reacting to Asif’s comments, BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain remarked that the threats were hollow and reflected the fear within Pakistan. “Khawaja Asif is visibly shaken. Though he is Pakistan’s Defence Minister, he hardly has any control – he’s merely a ‘statement minister,’ constantly issuing hollow threats. The fear among Pakistanis is evident – they are losing sleep at night,” Hussain told news agency IANS.
Delhi: On Pakistan Defence Minister’s statement to attack India, BJP National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain says, “Khawaja Asif is visibly shaken. Though he is Pakistan’s Defence Minister, he hardly has any control he’s merely a ‘statement minister,’ constantly issuing… pic.twitter.com/wSpuvHDPSm
— IANS (@ians_india) May 3, 2025
The Indian government, meanwhile, has launched a raft of measures against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, with Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil stating that India would ensure “not even a drop of water” from the Indus flows to Pakistan. On Saturday, New Delhi announced a slew of measures prohibiting all imports, mail, and parcel exchange. India has also banned Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports.
Although India has suspended the treaty, the flow of water to Pakistan continues for now, due to the lack of significant storage capacity on the three rivers allocated to Pakistan. Existing dams currently do not possess the capacity to block or divert the water.
In response to India’s move, Pakistani leaders have escalated rhetoric. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned that “either our water or their blood will flow” through the Indus. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also stated that any attempt to stop or divert Pakistan’s share of water would be treated as an “act of war.”
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