India has issued a stern warning to Pakistan, cautioning its leadership against any form of provocation or “misadventure,” which the Indian government says will lead to “painful consequences.”
Addressing the media at the weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed concern over recent inflammatory statements emerging from Pakistan. “We have taken note of the war-mongering tone and threats coming out of Pakistan,” said Jaiswal. “They would do well to rein in their rhetoric. Any misadventure will meet with a response that is painful, as has already been demonstrated in the past.”
Jaiswal also criticized Islamabad for using anti-India sentiment as a smokescreen to divert attention from its internal failures, especially in light of its struggling economy and growing domestic unrest.
The comments come in response to provocative remarks made by Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, during his recent visit to the United States. According to reports, Munir issued an unprecedented nuclear threat from U.S. soil, claiming that Pakistan would “take half the world down” if it were ever pushed to the brink by India. The general also warned of targeting Indian infrastructure on the Indus River if the water treaty dispute continues to escalate.
“We are a nuclear power,” Munir reportedly said. “If we are going down, we won’t go alone.”
He also threatened India against constructing dams that could affect water flow to Pakistan. Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Munir stated, “The Indus is not private property. We will wait for them to build the dam—and then destroy it with 10 missiles.”
This heated rhetoric follows India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty into abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, an attack India blames on Pakistani-based terror networks.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto accused India of inflicting “great harm” on Pakistan and urged unity among Pakistanis to stand against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Bhutto also hinted at war being a possible response if India refuses to reinstate the IWT, saying, “If India continues on this path, we may have no choice but to consider all options, including war.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these sentiments, warning India that it would be “taught a lesson” if it attempts to cut off Pakistan’s water supply. “Not a single drop will be taken from us,” he declared.
Meanwhile, Islamabad welcomed a recent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) regarding India’s new hydropower projects on the Western rivers, claiming the decision validates Pakistan’s position. However, New Delhi has firmly rejected the authority and legitimacy of the court’s decision.
In a statement issued on June 27, the Indian government reiterated that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the PCA in this matter. “The so-called award is irrelevant and has no legal bearing on India’s rights. The Indus Waters Treaty remains in abeyance as a sovereign decision taken in response to continued acts of cross-border terrorism,” the MEA said.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors remain high, with both sides hardening their positions over water-sharing rights and rising cross-border hostilities.
