Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has threatened war against India over water security, warning that Islamabad would resort to military action if it perceives its water supplies are threatened. The comments, made in an interview with ARY News on June 21, 2026, come as Pakistan grapples with a severe internal water crisis that experts attribute to chronic mismanagement.
Asif's War Warning Over Water
Speaking to ARY News, Asif stated: "The moment we feel that our national security, and water is part of our national security, is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely." He added that military action would be considered if Islamabad finds evidence that India is acting at an "alarming speed" to disrupt water supplies. These remarks follow India's suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in April 2025, after a Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India has said the treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan takes credible action to dismantle cross-border terror infrastructure.
Internal Water Crisis Exposes Mismanagement
While the World Bank-brokered treaty historically allows Pakistan to use 80% of the Indus water basin, the country's failure to manage these resources has left its farmlands vulnerable. Official data from Sindh's irrigation department reveals severe deficits: the North West Canal faces a 64.1% shortfall, while the Rice and Dadu Canals report shortages of 38% and 82%, respectively. Water levels at the critical Sukkur Barrage are collapsing, prompting local leaders to warn of an "economic massacre" due to the state's inability to resolve internal water distribution disputes. The crisis now impacts nearly one-third of Pakistan's population, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan.
Asif's Claims Contradicted by Lack of Data
Asif attempted to deflect blame towards New Delhi, accusing it of "weaponising water," manipulating Chenab River flows, and withholding data. However, his credibility was undermined when he admitted that, despite claiming Pakistani teams had previously performed "around 115 inspections," he lacked any current information on developments over the past year. This admission highlights the disconnect between Pakistan's aggressive rhetoric and its internal governance failures.
