Background on Key Figures and Context
The recent escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan stems from a terrorist attack that occurred in the disputed, predominantly Muslim region of Kashmir. This area is claimed by both countries, leading to ongoing conflicts.
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, has been at the helm since 2014. His government has taken a hardline stance on national security, particularly in relation to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan since 2018, has also maintained a firm position on Kashmir, viewing it as an integral part of Pakistan.
India’s Decision to Cut Water Supply
On Tuesday, India announced that it would “cut off” the water from rivers originating in its territory and flowing through Pakistan as retaliation for the April attack in Indian Kashmir, which New Delhi blames on Islamabad.
India suspended its participation in a 1960 water-sharing treaty with Pakistan, following the April 22 attack that left 26 people dead in the tourist town of Pahalgam, which is under Indian administration in Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Response
Although the attack was not claimed, New Delhi accused Islamabad, which firmly denied any involvement. Hours before Modi’s statement, Pakistan had accused India of altering the flow of the Chenab River.
“We have noticed changes in the Chenab that are not natural… The river’s normal flow was drastically reduced overnight,” Kazim Pirzada, the irrigation minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province bordering India, told AFP.
Historical Context of the Water-Sharing Treaty
The 1960 treaty established that both nations would jointly control the watershed of six Kashmir rivers converging downstream in the Indus River, which flows into Pakistan.
When India decided to unilaterally suspend the agreement, Pakistan warned that any attempt to modify the flow of these rivers would be considered “an act of war”.
Growing Tensions and Military Concerns
Experts fear an open military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed nations. For over a week, Indian and Pakistani soldiers have exchanged gunfire along the border with light weapons. Although New Delhi claims these exchanges have not resulted in any casualties so far.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the reason behind India’s decision to cut water supply? India decided to cut off the water from rivers originating in its territory and flowing through Pakistan as retaliation for a terrorist attack in Indian Kashmir, which New Delhi blames on Islamabad.
- What is the historical context of the water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan? The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty established that both nations would jointly control the watershed of six Kashmir rivers converging downstream in the Indus River, which flows into Pakistan.
- How has Pakistan responded to India’s decision? Pakistan accused India of altering the flow of the Chenab River and warned that any attempt to modify the flow of these rivers would be considered “an act of war”.
- What are the concerns regarding the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan? Experts fear an open military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed nations, with both countries exchanging gunfire along their border for over a week.
