Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), has vehemently dismissed the idea that India could obstruct Pakistan’s water supply, labeling it “insane thinking.” In an interview with Al Jazeera, the armed forces’ spokesperson asserted, “Only a mad person can think that India can stop Pakistan’s water. It is not possible to cut off water for 240 million people.”
This statement came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Thursday that Pakistan would not receive water from rivers over which India claims rights. Modi’s assertion followed a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) a month prior, which prompted New Delhi to suspend a crucial river water-sharing treaty between the neighbors. Responding to Modi’s comment, DG ISPR underscored that six rivers originate from the Kashmir region, and under United Nations resolutions, Kashmir remains a disputed territory. He elaborated, “If the people of Kashmir decide to join Pakistan, all those rivers will belong to us, making India a lower riparian state. At that point, it will be for Pakistan to decide how to deal with that situation.”
New Delhi unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), an agreement brokered by the World Bank in 1960, among a slew of measures announced by India against Pakistan last month following the April 22 attack that claimed 26 lives, predominantly Hindu tourists. Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized the unity and resilience of the Pakistani people. “If you go into the streets and cities of Pakistan, you will find the answer written on the faces of the people,” he stated, adding that the conflict transcends mere political or military dimensions, representing a battle of truth and principle.
Characterizing Pakistan’s Marka-e-Haq as “a just struggle,” the military spokesperson stated that Pakistan has exposed falsehoods, deception, coercion, and Indian aggression. He referred to the events following the Pahalgam incident, asserting that India constructed a fabricated narrative. “In response, Pakistan made one simple demand: if you have evidence, bring it forward,” he said. “If there is any proof connecting a Pakistani citizen or the state to the incident, present it — not just to us, but to the international community or a neutral and trusted third party, so that transparent investigations can take place.”
He noted India’s failure to respond to this demand. “India had no answer then, and it still has none,” he said, adding that just days ago, India’s Ministry of External Affairs admitted the investigation was ongoing. Commenting on India’s actions on May 6 and 7, Lt Gen Chaudhry stated, “They do not have any moral justification for what they did.” He criticized India’s handling of the situation, observing that the world witnessed how the Indian media and state propagated falsehoods in the information war.
India launched unprovoked missile strikes at multiple sites within Pakistani territory on the night of May 6 and 7, ostensibly targeting militant camps linked to the Pahalgam attack against the killing of tourists in the IIOJK. These Indian strikes resulted in the deaths of several Pakistani civilians, including women and children. In response, the Pakistan armed forces initiated a large-scale retaliatory military action, named “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” targeting several Indian military installations across multiple regions.
The Pakistan Air Force downed six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war, provoked by India, concluded on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States. Lt Gen Sharif noted that India possesses a more developed theater and film industry than Pakistan, which has enabled it to continuously craft new narratives, particularly regarding the false accusations against Islamabad linked to the Pahalgam attack.
The DG ISPR affirmed that Pakistan has not yet deployed the full strength of its conventional forces, adding that a major portion of the country’s military is concentrated on countering India-backed terrorism, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
‘India: The Foremost Sponsor of Terrorism’
“The world knows that India is the biggest sponsor of terrorism in this region,” Lt Gen Chaudhry asserted. He emphasized that Pakistan has not withdrawn any troops from these operations and has yet to reveal its full technological capabilities. He warned of the inherent dangers of conflict between two nuclear-armed nations. “Global powers understand that even imagining a war between two nuclear states is both dangerous and ridiculous,” he said. “India has been obsessed with war for years, which is like playing with fire.”
He criticized India for creating a situation that could lead to mutual destruction. In contrast, he stated, Pakistan has handled the situation wisely and avoided escalation. “A ceasefire means both sides have stopped firing,” he clarified, “but peace will only come when India abandons its war-driven political mindset.”
Lt Gen Chaudhry also voiced concerns regarding human rights violations in India. “The Indian elite believes in oppressing Muslims and minorities, which is a serious issue,” he said. He added that not only Muslims but also Christians, Sikhs, and lower-caste communities face persecution in India. “This oppression naturally triggers a reaction,” he noted, “but instead of addressing the root causes, India refuses to deal with the issues and blames Pakistan.”
He maintained that such reactions are the inevitable outcome of extremism and the Hindutva ideology. “India tries to turn its internal problems into an external issue by blaming Pakistan,” he said. “But until India resolves these internal problems, peace will not be possible.” He questioned the rationale behind allegedly targeting a holy place like the Golden Temple, calling the accusation “the greatest lie.” Lt Gen Chaudhary reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding Sikh religious sites such as Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib, and Kartarpur Sahib.
“Attacking religious or civilian sites is against our culture, our values, and our religion,” he stated, reiterating that Pakistan’s stance remains rooted in its moral and ethical principles. “We love our Sikh brothers, and there are deep bonds between Muslims and Sikhs in Pakistan,” he added.
‘Pakistan Promises Stronger Response to Future Aggression’
The military spokesperson asserted that Pakistan has fought its war independently and expects India to do the same. “If India has any self-respect, it should also fight its own battles.” He urged the Indian public to grasp the value of self-reliance and to cease their reliance on falsehoods and aggression. “Indians must stop relying on lies and aggression,” he added.
Referring to the recent escalations, Lt Gen Chaudhary stated that India committed open aggression while Pakistan stood firm then, and continues to stand firm today. He warned that any recurrence of such aggression by India would be met with an even stronger response. “If India tries this again, our reaction will be swifter and more severe than before,” he concluded.
