A detailed investigation by Al Jazeera has revealed that Prime Minister Modi’s Hindutva policy has brought the region to the edge of a water catastrophe.

The report underscores India’s limited capacity to manage the crisis and labels New Delhi’s moves as both ineffective and dangerous.

According to the report, India’s announcement to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty is legally untenable, since any termination or amendment requires the consent of both India and Pakistan.

Even with its dam infrastructure, India remains unable to effectively store river water, leaving its own population exposed to potential flooding.

Al Jazeera noted that India’s occupation of Kashmir is part of a broader ambition to gain full control over the rivers flowing into Pakistan, effectively weaponizing water as a political tool.

Islamabad-based environmental and water expert Naseer Memon described the move as “political cunning,” arguing that the real goal is to create panic in Pakistan rather than to practically change water flows.

Senior Lecturer in Geography at King’s College London, Dr. Majid Akhter, said that suspending the treaty serves as a symbolic gesture aimed at pressuring Pakistan rather than causing any immediate damage.

World Bank President Ajay Banga weighed in, clarifying that the Indus Waters Treaty includes no provision for unilateral suspension. He reaffirmed that any changes can only occur with the agreement of both nations.

New Delhi-based political analyst and water expert Antima Banerjee emphasized that India is not capable of blocking river flows outright and can only manage discharge on a temporary basis.

An environmental historian at University College London, Dan Haines, observed that India chose to suspend the treaty immediately after the Pahalgam attack, effectively weaponizing water as part of its political response.

The Al Jazeera report concluded by accusing India of openly violating international law by disregarding the International Court’s ruling on the matter.