Omar Abdullah Takes Aim At Pakistan Over J&K River Water Claims

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday criticised Pakistan over its claims concerning the waters of rivers originating in the Union Territory, saying Islamabad should not portray itself as sympathetic towards Kashmiris while objecting to India's use of its own river resources. His remarks came amid renewed tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty and statements from Pakistan's leadership regarding water supplies. Abdullah was responding to comments by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the Indus Waters Treaty. Sharif had described “every drop of water” as a red line for Pakistan and warned that Islamabad would give a “direct response” if its water supplies were threatened. The remarks came against the backdrop of continuing disagreements between India and Pakistan over the management and use of waters covered by the treaty.

Responding to Sharif's position, Abdullah questioned Pakistan's claims of concern for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He argued that Pakistan's position on Kashmir appeared inconsistent with its objections to India's efforts to use river waters within its territory. Abdullah said Pakistan could not claim to be a “sympathiser” of Kashmiris while opposing their access to the region's own river resources. “We have always been saying that our blood has been sucked - these are our rivers. We had the first right on this,” Abdullah told reporters. He also questioned where Pakistan's sympathy was when, according to him, Jammu and Kashmir faced restrictions on using its rivers. His remarks reflected the longstanding political sensitivities surrounding water resources in the region.

Abdullah further referred to the distribution of the six rivers associated with the Indus river system under the Indus Waters Treaty. He said India retained three rivers associated with Punjab while, in his description, the three rivers originating from Jammu and Kashmir were “handed over to Pakistan”. He argued that Jammu and Kashmir had suffered as a consequence of the arrangement. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 with the World Bank's involvement. It established a framework for sharing the waters of the Indus river system and broadly allocated the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — to India, while the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — were allocated primarily to Pakistan, subject to specified rights and conditions for India.

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Water has remained a particularly sensitive issue in India-Pakistan relations because the river system supports agriculture, drinking water and other economic activities in both countries. Jammu and Kashmir is home to several major rivers covered by the treaty, including the Jhelum and Chenab. The arrangement has repeatedly been the subject of disputes, particularly over India's hydropower projects and Pakistan's concerns about their potential impact on downstream water flows. Sharif's latest remarks and Abdullah's response reflect the wider deterioration in relations between the two countries. Water issues have increasingly featured in political statements from both sides, particularly when broader bilateral tensions rise. The treaty itself has also faced renewed scrutiny amid disagreements over its implementation and India's position on its future.

Abdullah's comments specifically focused on the impact he believes the existing arrangement has had on Jammu and Kashmir. His argument was that the people of the Union Territory should have greater ability to benefit from the rivers flowing through the region. He also rejected the idea that Pakistan's political claims regarding Kashmir could be separated from its position on the use and allocation of the region's water resources. The dispute over river waters is likely to remain a significant issue in India-Pakistan relations as both sides continue to assert their positions. While Pakistan has stressed the importance of maintaining its water supplies, Indian leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about restrictions on the country's ability to fully utilise its allocated river waters. Abdullah's latest remarks add a Jammu and Kashmir-specific dimension to that continuing debate.

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