KARACHI: The Foreign Office on Wednesday condemned Indian PM Narendra Modi’s remarks about the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it an “inflammatory monologue” and “historical revisionism”.

The Indian PM’s remarks came after a deadly attack in India held Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan.

Earlier this month, both nations were involved in days-long conflict which was instigated after New Delhi launched a series of air strikes in Pakistan. Later, both sides agreed to cease fire.

Since then Indian PM Modi has upped the ante against Pakistan, with his inflammatory rem­arks in public rallies.

In a video posted by Indian news outlet ANI, Mr Modi, while addressing a public gathering in Gujarat, called into question the Indus Waters Treaty, which India has been “holding in abeyance” since the Paha­lgam attack.

“If you study the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, you’ll be shocked,” he said, while referring to the agreement brokered by the World Bank to regulate the distribution of water resources between India and Pakistan.

“It was decided that the dams built on the rivers of Jammu and Kashmir would not be cleaned … For 60 years, these gates were never opened. Reservoirs that were supposed to be filled to 100 per cent capacity have now been reduced to only 2pc or 3pc,” Mr Modi claimed.

Stating that the treaty has only been held in abeyance as of now, he added, “Right now, I haven’t done anything, and people are sweating there [Pakistan].”

Revisionism

Calling Modi’s remarks “unexpected”, the FO in a statement urged India to set aside its project of “historical revisionism”. It termed India’s approach towards the treaty as a “troubling departure from international norms”.

“A leadership truly in pursuit of international respect might first look inward, and seek to cleanse its conscience before issuing threats to others,” the statement read.

“Pakistan urges India to return to the core principles of international order, including respect for sovereign rights of others and its treaty obligations, as well as restraint in both language and action.”

The FO cautioned that “jingoism may stir applause on the campaign trail, but it undermines long-term peace and stability”.

“India’s youth, often the first casualty of chauvinistic nationalism, would do well to reject the politics of fear and instead work toward a future defined by dignity, reason, and regional cooperation.”

The statement added that such acts may serve do­m­­estic optics, but cannot withstand international scr­utiny or inspire India’s im­a­ge as a responsible reg­ional power, while highlighting that “the ideo­l­o­gical followers of Ind­ia’s current government ha­ve normalised mob viole­nce, promoted hate campa­igns and targeted religious minorities”.

“The Indian government is linked to extraterritorial assassinations and foreign subversion. India is in occupation of foreign people and territories. Its record in Ind­i­an Illegally Occupied Jam­mu and Kashmir is defi­n­ed by systematic repr­ession. It is ironic that such a state now attempts to claim the mantle of victimhood.”

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2025