'We'll Cut Off Those Hands...': Pakistan Warns India Amid Dispute Over Indus Waters Treaty

Published 30 June 2026 · local

'We'll Cut Off Those Hands...': Pakistan Warns India Amid Dispute Over Indus Waters Treaty Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 07:31 IST A decades-old

'We'll Cut Off Those Hands...': Pakistan Warns India Amid Dispute Over Indus Waters Treaty Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 07:31 IST A decades-old water-sharing pact, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was kept in abeyance by India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025 Pakistan's Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik | Image credit: Reuters Pakistan issued yet another warning to India amid the escalating dispute over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), with Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik saying Islamabad would “cut off those hands" that attempted to claim the country’s share of water. A decades-old water-sharing pact, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was kept in abeyance by India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which killed 25 tourists and a local. Addressing a press conference, Malik targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he accused New Delhi of “controlling" Pakistan’s share of water.

“There is a tap being controlled by the prime minister of a neighbouring country. He says he will not let even a drop of water flow into Pakistan," the Pakistan minister said, according to Dawn. “We will cut off those hands who lay claim to our share of water", he said. A video of his remarks was widely circulated online, with Pakistani broadcaster 24NewsHD and several outlets reporting it. Watch پاکستان پہلے ہی واضح کر چکا ہے کہ اگر کسی نے ہمارے پانی پر ہاتھ ڈالنے کی کوشش کی تو اسے بھرپور جواب دیا جائے گاہم دوٹوک اعلان کر چکے ہیں کہ جو ہمارے پانی پر ہاتھ ڈالے گا ہم وہ ہاتھ کاٹ دیں گے ہم نے پہلے ہوا میں پکڑ کر ٹھوکا ہے اب نیچے سے بھی ٹھوکیں گے ۔ مصدق ملک pic.twitter.com/l4q4XfmpsN — Kippsam Malik (@KeepsamM) June 29, 2026 “Not that we’ve only announced it, we’ve proved that if anyone lays a hand over our share of water, we’ll chop off that hand", Malik said.

Reiterating Islamabad would not let “anyone" obstruct its share of water, he added: “But the question is about justice. Our forces have stood like a wall, not once but twice, proving that not only water but if someone tries to stake claim over our air, we’ll not let that happen". Indus Water Treaty Dispute The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) governs the sharing of the Indus river system between India and Pakistan. Brokered by the World Bank in 1960, the treaty allows India to control the eastern rivers –– Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. The western rivers –– Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab –– are controlled by Pakistan. While the treaty endured several wars, New Delhi suspended the agreement in April 2025 after the Pahalgam assault –– one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in decades –– which killed 26 people. Pakistan has challenged India’s decision to suspend the treaty, while India has argued that the treaty is detached from present-day realities.