PM Modi Warns Pakistan on Water Rights and Terror
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and India's strong stance on counterterrorism have significant implications for the region, with India's Foreign Minister warning of a response to any further terrorist attacks. As tensions remain high, India's communication strategy will play a crucial role in shaping international perception and countering Pakistan's narrative.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that Pakistan will not receive water from rivers over which India has rights, following a deadly attack in Indian Kashmir that India blames on Pakistan, leading to a suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement between the two nations, provides 80% of Pakistan's water supply. India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that there will be a response to any further terrorist attacks, and India will hit the terrorists where they are. A ceasefire between the two countries has largely held, but tensions remain high. India has taken several measures against Pakistan, including suspending trade and closing land borders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong message on national security, counterterrorism, and India's stance on Pakistan during a public rally in Rajasthan's Bikaner. He ruled out dialogue and trade with Pakistan, focusing solely on reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Modi warned Pakistan against continued terror exports, threatening to block water flow and dismissing nuclear threats.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has been actively promoting its narrative on the Kashmir issue through foreign media platforms, with Pakistani ministers and diplomats appearing in at least 25 interviews on popular TV channels in the US, UK, Middle East, and Europe. In contrast, Indian embassies in 75% of G20 countries did not engage with local media, publish opinion pieces, or conduct public events to shape public opinion on the Pahalgam attack and subsequent strikes on terror camps in Pakistan.
Former diplomats believe that India must adopt a more proactive and assertive global communications strategy to shape international perception and counter Pakistan's narrative. This comes as India's absence from foreign media platforms and lack of communication activities by embassies and high commissions allowed Pakistan to spread its narrative unchecked.