India Warns Pakistan of ‘Painful Consequences’ Over Indus River Threats
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New Delhi issues strong statement against Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir’s remarks, calls it a “well-known modus operandi” to divert attention from internal failures
New Delhi | August 14, 2025 — In one of its strongest statements in recent months, India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for its “reckless, war-mongering and hateful comments” targeting New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) warned Islamabad of “painful consequences” should it engage in any misadventure, responding directly to provocative remarks by Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir about destroying Indian dams on the Indus River.
Timeline of Events
Last Week (Tampa, Florida) – Speaking at an event hosted by Pakistani-American community members during his visit to the United States, General Asim Munir declared that Pakistan would never allow India to control the Indus River. He went further, threatening to “destroy any dam” India might build.
“We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it… The Indus River is not the Indians’ family property,” Munir was quoted as saying by Dawn.
Monday, August 11 – Reacting to these comments, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the “nuclear sabre-rattling”, saying such rhetoric reinforced doubts about Pakistan’s nuclear command and control, especially given its military’s ties with terrorist groups.
Thursday, August 14 – During the weekly media briefing, Jaiswal escalated India’s response, calling Munir’s statements a “well-known modus operandi” by Pakistani leadership to whip up anti-India sentiment to cover internal governance failures.
MEA’s Strong Words
“Pakistan would be well-advised to temper its rhetoric, as any misadventure will have painful consequences, as was demonstrated recently,” Jaiswal said, hinting at past military encounters where India retaliated decisively.
The MEA also expressed regret that such provocative comments were made “from the soil of a friendly third country”, referring to the United States.
Background: Why the Indus River Matters
The Indus Waters Treaty (1960), brokered by the World Bank, divides control over six rivers between India and Pakistan. While Pakistan gets unrestricted use of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, India can use the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — and limited usage rights over western rivers for non-consumptive purposes, such as hydroelectric projects.
Tensions over water have risen periodically, especially when India announces new dam projects in Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan often frames these developments as attempts to “choke” its water supply — a narrative India firmly rejects as baseless.
Pakistan’s Domestic Context
Analysts believe the fiery rhetoric from Munir comes amid growing domestic instability in Pakistan — including economic crisis, political infighting, and public anger over inflation.
“When Pakistan’s leadership is cornered at home, it turns to anti-India rhetoric as a rallying cry,” said a senior retired Indian diplomat familiar with Indo-Pak relations. “It’s a pattern we’ve seen for decades.”
India’s Position on Nuclear Blackmail
This is not the first time New Delhi has accused Islamabad of “nuclear blackmail”. In April this year, India also hit back at Munir for calling Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein”.
“How can anything foreign be their jugular vein? This is a Union Territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally-occupied territories,” Jaiswal had said at the time.
India has consistently maintained that it will not succumb to threats and will take “all necessary steps to safeguard national security.”
International Implications
Munir’s remarks, made in the United States, are likely to draw attention from Washington and other global powers concerned about stability in South Asia. India’s mention of Pakistan’s “military hand-in-glove with terrorist groups” will also add to the pressure on Islamabad’s diplomatic standing.
Foreign policy experts say such exchanges complicate ongoing backchannel attempts to cool tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Local and National Impact
While such statements may seem distant to the average Indian citizen, they have real implications:
- Security Readiness – Heightened military vigilance along the Line of Control (LoC) and international borders.
- Diplomatic Pressure – India may use these remarks to strengthen its case against Pakistan at international forums.
- Public Opinion – Strong government pushback can reinforce national confidence but also risk inflaming nationalist fervor on both sides.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
India’s latest warning to Pakistan underscores how quickly water disputes can escalate into serious diplomatic — and potentially military — confrontations. With both nations facing domestic pressures, the temptation to leverage external conflict for internal unity remains high.
The situation also highlights the enduring fragility of Indo-Pak relations despite decades-old treaties and international mediation. As New Delhi puts it, any misadventure will be met with “painful consequences” — a reminder that in South Asia’s geopolitics, words are rarely just words.