India announces that it will “cut the water” of the rivers that irrigate Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack

In retaliation for the deadly attack on the Indian cashmere, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Tuesday, May 6 that his country was going “cut the water” Rivers that take their sources in its territory and irrigate Pakistan downstream. “Water belonging to India passed so far outwards, it will now be stopped to serve the interests of India and will be used for the country”said Mr. Modi during a public speech.

India has suspended its participation in a water sharing treaty signed in 1960 with Pakistan in retaliation for the attack which killed 26 on April 22 in the tourist town of Pahalgam, in the Indian cashmere. Even if the attack was not claimed, New Delhi questioned Islamabad, who categorically denied.

For its part, the United States called on the two countries on Tuesday to work for a “Resolution responsible” of their dispute. “We continue to urge Pakistan and India to work on a responsible resolution which maintains long -term peace and regional stability in South Asia”told the press Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the State Department. The spokesperson did not directly comment on Mr. Modi’s words, but assured that the United States remained “Committed”. “We remain in contact with the governments of the two countries on several levels”she said.

The two countries have been on the war foot since this attack, the deadliest targeting civilians committed for more than twenty years in the Indian part of this region with a Muslim majority. Indian and Pakistani soldiers have exchanged over a week for more than a week of light weapons along the border that separates their countries.

“An act of war”

On Tuesday, Islamabad accused New Delhi of modifying the flow of the Chenab river, one of the three placed under the control of Islamabad according to the 1960 treaty. “We have noticed changes on the Chenab which are not natural (…), The normal flow of the river was considerably reduced overnight ”told France-Presse Kazim Pirzada, Minister of Irrigation of the Pendjab.

After the Indian decision to unilaterally suspend the treaty, Pakistan warned that any attempt to disturb the flow of rivers would be considered as “An act of war”.

Located on the border of India, this province, which has almost half of 240 million Pakistani, is the agricultural heart of the country. The Industry Treaty grants New Delhi the right to use the shared rivers for its dams or cultures, but forbids it to divert rivers or alter the volume of water downstream.