Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has responded sharply to Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s threat over suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Abdullah countered Sharif’s warning that every drop of Pakistan’s water is a red line, with the response that the IWT has “sucked the blood of Kashmiris”.
“We have been saying it all along that our blood has been sucked. Thank God Nawaz (Shahbaz) Sharief Sahab has returned to his senses. Our blood has been sucked; these are our waters. We have the first right on this. Pakistanis say they are great sympathisers of Kashmiris. “Where was their (Pakistan’s) sympathy when we were denied permission to use our rivers.
Earlier, Sharif had threatened India with “direct action” and termed every drop of water as Pakistan’s red line. Abdullah said the comments only exposed Pakistan’s false sympathy for Kashmir by objecting to India’s use of its own river waters. But when it comes to water, their sympathy disappears,” Abdullah said. He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir are bearing the consequences of the treaty and strongly supported its suspension. We have been bearing the consequences of the treaty ever since our rivers were handed over to Pakistan under the IWT,” he said. The chief minister said Jammu and Kashmir had constraints to use water from its rivers such as the Chenab for drinking water or constructing a barrage at Tulbul for navigation. He said the IWT should remain suspended to allow the best use of the region’s water resources.
