In a powerful message to New Delhi, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has issued a stern warning: any move by India to block Pakistan’s water supply under the Indus Waters Treaty would lead to consequences that could last for generations.
Speaking in a televised interview with a private news channel, the DG ISPR cautioned India against using water as a weapon, calling such a move a red line. “Only a madman could think of cutting off water from a nation of over 240 million people,” he said. “If that happens, the world will see the consequences unfold over years and decades. We hope such a day never comes, but if it does, Pakistan will not stay silent.”
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His statement comes amid rapidly escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Last month, India blamed Pakistan for a deadly shooting in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir — a charge Islamabad strongly denies. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and halted the sharing of water, triggering alarm in Pakistan.
The situation took a sharp turn on May 6 and 7, when India launched airstrikes on Pakistani territory, reportedly targeting what it claimed were militant hideouts. The attacks left 40 Pakistani civilians dead, including women and children.
In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-um Marsoos on the night of May 9 and 10, targeting 26 Indian military installations. The Pakistan Air Force also shot down multiple Indian aircraft, including a Mirage 2000, according to ISPR sources.
“We could have gone further but chose restraint,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said. “Our actions were measured, targeted, and completely avoided civilian areas. This is the difference between a responsible military and one that acts recklessly.”
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He also revealed that despite India’s aggressive posturing, it was New Delhi that eventually reached out for a ceasefire through backdoor diplomatic channels. “We agreed because we believe in peace,” he said. “We don’t want war. But if provoked, we will defend every inch of our land.”
Addressing the Kashmir dispute, the DG ISPR said India’s ongoing campaign of oppression has failed to bring peace. “The root of the problem is unresolved. As long as Kashmir remains an open wound, there can be no lasting peace in the region.”
In a separate interview with RT Arabic, Lt Gen Chaudhry accused India of sponsoring terrorism inside Pakistan and manipulating global narratives. He pointed to the swift and baseless blame placed on Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, highlighting that Indian authorities admitted days later that investigations were still ongoing.
“We offered full cooperation for an international investigation,” he noted. “But India rejected it and chose aggression instead. They launched missiles that struck our mosques and killed innocent people.”
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As India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week reiterated his threat to cut off Pakistan’s water, the DG ISPR reminded the global community that weaponizing natural resources is not only unethical but a direct invitation to prolonged conflict.
“Water is a lifeline,” Lt Gen Chaudhry concluded. “It is not a bargaining chip. If India blocks it, it will be considered an act of war — not just by Pakistan, but by history itself.”
