Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani reacted Sunday to India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, stating that if a country attempts to stop the flow of water, they are welcome to try — but questioned the feasibility of controlling nature itself.
“If someone stops water, let them stop it. These rivers have been flowing for thousands of years. Where will you take their water? It’s not easy,” Madani said.
In his statement, Madani called for an environment of “love, not hatred,” cautioning that divisive narratives were unsuitable for India’s long-term future.
“I am a Muslim, I am spending my life here in this country, and I know that the things which are being promoted here are not suitable for the country,” he added.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 tourists were brutally killed by terrorists. In response, the Indian government has initiated a series of retaliatory diplomatic and strategic measures against Pakistan, including:
- Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, originally signed in 1960 under World Bank mediation.
- Declaring Pakistan’s defence and military advisors in New Delhi persona non grata.
- Banning 15 Pakistani YouTube channels spreading propaganda.
- Closing Indian airspace to all Pakistani-operated or registered flights.
- Suspending social media handles of prominent Pakistani celebrities and political figures within India.
- Banning Pakistani ships from Indian seaports.
The treaty suspension marks a historic shift in India’s water diplomacy, especially as the Indus Waters Treaty had survived several wars and cross-border tensions.
Meanwhile, Kanbai Shivji Hirani, one of the women involved in reconstructing the Bhuj airstrip during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, echoed sentiments for strong retaliatory action.
“We rebuilt the airstrip as it was a matter of the country… Now I urge PM Modi to take strong action: stop water, stop food supply. That’s the only way they’ll understand,” Hirani said.
With the armed forces granted full operational freedom, sources indicate India may continue escalating non-kinetic responses alongside potential military options.
The government has vowed that those responsible for the Pahalgam attack will face “severe punishment,” signaling zero tolerance toward terrorism.