Omar Abdullah calls for permanent termination of Indus Waters Treaty

Omar Abdullah's direct response to Pakistan: Says Indus Waters Treaty should be permanently terminated

Tensions between India and Pakistan over the Indus Waters Treaty are once again escalating. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned India, stating that every drop of Pakistan's water is a "red line" and that any attempt to harm its water resources will be met with a direct response. Following this statement, Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has issued a sharp reply to Pakistan.

What did Omar Abdullah say about the Indus Waters Treaty?

Omar Abdullah has clearly stated that instead of temporarily suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, it should now be considered for permanent termination.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister remarked that due to this agreement, Jammu and Kashmir has been unable to fully utilize its water resources for decades. According to him, the water that Pakistan claims as its right flows through the rivers of Jammu and Kashmir, and the interests of J&K should also be taken into account in this matter.

He further criticized Pakistan, questioning why, if Pakistan claims to be a well-wisher of Kashmiris, it objects to the utilization of Jammu and Kashmir's river waters.

Shehbaz Sharif warns India over water

This controversy intensified after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's speech on Pakistan's Independence Day.

During the 'Yaadgar-e-Fatah' event in Islamabad, Shehbaz Sharif targeted India over the Indus Waters Treaty. He stated that every drop of Pakistan's water is a "red line" for his country. He also warned that if Pakistan's water supply is threatened, his country would respond directly.

Shehbaz Sharif also referred to the military confrontation between India and Pakistan in 2025 and mentioned that Pakistan would respond to any future challenges.

Why is the Indus Waters Treaty becoming contentious?

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 under the mediation of the World Bank. The agreement established the usage rights of six major rivers in the Indus river system between the two countries.

India suspended the treaty in April 2025 following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Since then, Pakistan has been consistently demanding the restoration of the treaty.

Now, with Pakistan issuing strong statements about water once again, political reactions in India have also intensified.

"Our blood was used, the water is ours too"—Omar Abdullah's attack

Omar Abdullah has strongly reacted to Pakistan's claims over Jammu and Kashmir's water. He stated that while Pakistan pretends to show sympathy towards Kashmiris, it opposes India's use of Jammu and Kashmir's natural resources.

He argued that Jammu and Kashmir has faced numerous restrictions in utilizing its own water resources for a long time. He believes the time has come to reconsider this arrangement.

Will the Indus Waters Treaty be permanently terminated?

Currently, there has been no formal announcement from the Indian government about permanently terminating the Indus Waters Treaty. Therefore, Omar Abdullah's demand is being viewed as a political statement for now.

However, with Pakistan's Prime Minister labeling water as a "red line" and Omar Abdullah advocating for the treaty's termination, it is evident that the water issue between India and Pakistan will remain highly sensitive in the future.

Conclusion

While Pakistan is demanding the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty, Omar Abdullah argues that the agreement has harmed Jammu and Kashmir's interests and should now be permanently terminated.

Shehbaz Sharif's "every drop is a red line" warning and Omar Abdullah's response have once again brought the water dispute between India and Pakistan into the spotlight.