Kolkata: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday sharply criticized Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his recent claim that “the enemy cannot snatch even a single drop of water from Pakistan.”
Ghosh dismissed Sharif’s statement, asserting that Pakistan is now “left with nothing” and is losing international support, including from its long-time ally, China.
“There is nothing left with Pakistan now. China, which used to back them against India, is now shaking hands with India. Pakistan, a beggar country, holds no value, which explains why its leaders resort to such remarks. The people there lack access to food, healthcare, and jobs. They are fleeing the country. Soon, only terrorists will remain,” Ghosh said.
His comments come amid ongoing tensions over water-sharing disputes between India and Pakistan, with Sharif’s statement viewed as a direct response.
On Tuesday, Sharif warned that any attempt to block water flow into Pakistan would violate the Indus Waters Treaty and be met with a “decisive response.”
Speaking at an event in Islamabad, he said, “The enemy [India] can’t snatch even a single drop of water from Pakistan.”
Sharif added, “You threatened to stop our water. If you attempt such a move, Pakistan will teach you a lesson you will never forget.”
The Pakistani Prime Minister emphasized that water is a lifeline for Pakistan and vowed no compromise on the country’s rights under international agreements, according to Geo News.
Following the April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in exercise of its sovereign rights, demanding that Pakistan irrevocably end its support for cross-border terrorism.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan with World Bank assistance, is considered one of the most successful international treaties. Initiated by former World Bank President Eugene Black, the treaty has endured despite frequent conflicts and has provided a framework for irrigation and hydropower development for over 60 years.
Former US President Dwight Eisenhower once described it as “one bright spot in a very depressing world picture.”
Under the treaty, the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) are allocated to Pakistan, while the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) belong to India.
