India has taken note of Pakistan climate minister Musadik Malik’s latest threat to “cut off those hands” that, according to him, seek control over Indus waters. From New Delhi’s perspective, the remarks are provocative, misleading, and deliberately escalatory, especially at a time when India has already suspended participation in the Indus Waters Treaty mechanisms following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Indian officials maintain that terror and water cannot flow together, and Pakistan cannot expect treaty privileges while allowing cross‑border terrorism and the killing of innocent civilians. New Delhi’s position has been consistent: Pakistan must stop terror, dismantle its infrastructure, and end support for anti‑India groups before any reconsideration of treaty engagement can occur.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960, has survived wars and diplomatic freezes. India has honoured its obligations for decades, even during periods of intense conflict. However, after repeated terror incidents—including the recent Pahalgam attack—India has made it clear that the treaty cannot operate in isolation from ground realities.
Indian analysts say Malik’s rhetoric is an attempt to shift blame for Pakistan’s internal water mismanagement, which includes poor storage capacity, outdated irrigation systems, and chronic governance failures. India’s usage of western rivers remains within treaty limits, and New Delhi rejects allegations of interference as factually incorrect.
The imagery of dry riverbeds circulated in Pakistani media is viewed in India as political theatre, not evidence of treaty violation. Seasonal variations and Pakistan’s own infrastructure gaps are widely documented contributors to water shortages.
India is expected to maintain a firm stance: no dialogue on water until Pakistan stops terror. New Delhi continues to emphasise legal compliance, national security, and the need for Pakistan to address its own governance failures rather than issue threats.