‘Empty threats from a shaken minister’: BJP mocks Pakistan's warning over Indus waters

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's aggressive warning against India over the Indus Waters Treaty. Asif, doubling down on his warlike rhetoric, declared that any structure built by India to divert Pakistan's share of water under the treaty would be "destroyed," framing such a move as an act of aggression.

Responding sharply, BJP National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain dismissed Asif’s threats as baseless and desperate. “Khawaja Asif is visibly rattled. Despite holding the post of Defence Minister, he has little real authority. He is merely a 'statement minister,' issuing hollow threats while his country grapples with fear and sleepless nights,” Hussain remarked, ridiculing Pakistan’s sabre-rattling.

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Asif’s latest warning comes amid heightened tensions after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The treaty, critical for sustaining nearly 80% of Pakistan’s agricultural land, has become a new flashpoint between the two nations.

In an interview, Asif reiterated that any attempt by India to construct dams or divert water from the Indus basin would be met with strong retaliation. "Even an architectural attempt of this kind will be considered aggression, and Pakistan will destroy that structure," he declared.

India's Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil had earlier stated that the government would ensure "not even a drop of water" flows into Pakistan, underscoring New Delhi's toughening stance post the terror strike.