Any structure to divert Indus water will be destroyed, warns Pakistan

Islamabad has threatened to attack and destroy any structure India builds to divert the Indus water that flows into Pakistan in the wake of the terrorist massacre of civilians at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

The threat was held out by Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who has made one provocative remark after another since relations between India and Pakistan nosedived after the April 22 killings.

The minister was asked about Pakistan's reaction if India moves to construct dams on the Indus basin.

Also read: India bans direct, indirect imports from Pakistan over Pahalgam attack

‘Aggression against Pakistan’

Asif said: "That will be aggression against Pakistan... Even if they (India) made an architectural attempt of this kind, then Pakistan will destroy that structure."

Among other measures, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which ensures water for 80 per cent of Pakistani agricultural land, hours after the Pahalgam attack which left over two dozen civilians dead in the worst terrorists strike since the Mumbai mayhem of 2008.

According to the Pakistani minister, any structure built by India to divert Pakistan's share of water under the 1960 Indus treaty would be destroyed.

Also read: India to ask global funding agencies to review loans, grants to Pak: Source

India-Pakistan ties

India has blamed Pakistan and Pakistani terrorists for killing 26 Indian tourists, all Hindu men, and a Kashmiri Muslim at Pahalgam. Islamabad has predictably denied the charge.

Since then, India and Pakistan have announced tit-for-tat measures that have taken their perennially tense relations to a new low.

Also read: 'If India attacks Pak, Bangladesh should...': Yunus' aide issues warning

In an interview, the Pakistani minister, who has made a string of provocative remarks, reiterated that any diversion of Pakistan's waters would be seen as a "face of aggression".

Pakistan has for decades harboured, financed and armed terrorist groups in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir besides Islamist outfits in other parts of India.