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The Indus Waters Treaty remains a symbol of endurance, but its future spirit depends on trust. India has shown patience and responsibility for decades. Yet no nation can be expected to ignore the loss of innocent lives forever. The message behind “Blood and water cannot go together” is not about revenge. It is about the simple truth that peace and terrorism cannot exist side by side.
The Indus Waters Treaty is a water sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank. This treaty has survived years of conflict and tension owing to India’s compassionate and humanitarian approach, even after multiple terror attacks by Pakistan on Indian soil. However, how long could India continue to exercise restraint? The threshold was bound to be crossed someday, and that day eventually came.
On April 22, 2025, a terror attack engineered by Pakistan killed more than 25 civilians, mostly non locals and tourists. Apart from the military response through “Operation Sindoor,” India put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance with immediate effect to pressure Pakistan to stop anti India terror attacks. During this period, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, “Blood and water cannot flow together,” referring to Pakistan’s actions that spill innocent blood in Kashmir and other parts of India. The statement reflected the belief that waters flowing from Indian soil should not benefit a country supporting bloodshed and terrorism. For many people, the statement appeared genuine and logical because blood and water do not mix. A country cannot continue to provide goodwill while repeatedly suffering terror violence.
The repeated terror attacks on Indian soil have raised a serious question. Can a country continue normal cooperation when innocent citizens are being killed? This is where the statement “Blood and water cannot go together” gains importance.
Now, coming to the issue of Pakistan sponsored terrorism against India, especially in Kashmir. Pakistan has long been following a hostile policy toward India, often described as an attempt to “bleed India through a thousand cuts.” After Partition, Kashmir became the first major cut of Pakistan’s same doctrine. For decades, Pakistan has either carried out or supported terror attacks and groups be it Lashkare Taiba or Jashe Muhammad aimed at harming India.
Major attacks such as the Parliament attack in 2001, the Mumbai attacks in 2008, the Pathankot attack in 2016, the Uri attack in 2016, the Pulwama attack in 2019, and the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack left deep scars on the nation. Hundreds of innocent civilians and security personnel lost their lives. Every attack increased anger and frustration among Indians who believed that peace efforts were not being respected.
Despite these attacks, India did not immediately abandon the Indus Waters Treaty. Instead, it continued to follow international rules and maintained its image as a responsible global power. This patience reflected India’s maturity and belief in diplomacy. Yet many experts argue that Pakistan enjoyed the benefits of the treaty while failing to create an atmosphere of trust and peace.
The biggest victims of Pakistan sponsored terrorism have been ordinary and innocent Kashmiris. Kashmiris lost their childhood, youth, and lives because of decades of Pakistan’s terror violence. We saw our paradise burning and normalcy becoming a distant dream. Schools and colleges remained shut, children embraced graves instead of classrooms, mothers and sisters mourned their loved ones, and every kind of tragedy, pain, and scar imaginable became part of our lives. All of this happened because of the terrorism that entered our beautiful valley.In recent events, the visuals from the Pahalgam terror attack spread widely on social media. Blood stained and bullet ridden bodies of innocent civilians lay on the ground, while women cried over the loss of their loved ones. The pain was unbearable.
The waters that flow to Pakistan actually pass through the territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh through rivers such as the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum. Therefore, many people in Kashmir feel deeply hurt that a country that caused bloodshed in their land continues to receive waters flowing from the same region.
The debate is not about stopping water completely or creating a humanitarian crisis. India has always respected international law and understands the importance of water for ordinary people. The real issue is whether a country facing continuous terrorism should continue cooperation as usual in every field. As a common Kashmiri and an Indian, I feel that peace agreements require mutual trust and responsibility. If terrorism continues, the spirit of cooperation naturally weakens.
Another important point is that treaties survive not only because of legal documents but because of trust between nations. The Indus Waters Treaty lasted for decades because India honoured it sincerely. However, trust cannot survive in an environment where violence and terrorism continue. If one side supports hostility while expecting cooperation in return, imbalance develops. Long term peace requires accountability from both countries.
The larger lesson from this issue is that terrorism damages every possibility of cooperation. Trade, cultural exchanges, diplomacy, and even water sharing become difficult when violence continues. Peace in South Asia largely depends on decisions taken in Islamabad and GHQ Rawalpindi. If Pakistan changes its approach, revisits its policies, and stops anti India terror activities, long awaited peace could finally become possible.
To me, and to every sensible person, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that “blood and water cannot go together” makes complete sense. A nation cannot be expected to continue normal cooperation while facing repeated acts of terrorism. The statement reflects the natural feeling that peace, trust, and violence cannot exist together.
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