Islamabad (Pakistan): Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) deputy chief and Pahalgam attack mastermind Saifullah Kasuri has issued a direct threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video circulating widely on social media. The video, which has gone viral across Pakistan-based platforms, also ties the threat to the recent floods in Pakistan and contains politically charged anti-India rhetoric.
In the clip, Kasuri praises Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, referring to him as “Field Marshal”, and states, “I request our supreme leader Field Marshal Asim Munir to teach a lesson to PM Modi like we did on May 10, 2025.” The remarks appear to link the threat against India with domestic flood relief narratives, as Kasuri claims his actions are “in the name of flood relief work.”
Allegations of water terrorism
Kasuri accused India of “doing water terrorism”, alleging that New Delhi intentionally triggered floods in Pakistan through “uncontrolled water release.” These claims surfaced just days after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised the Indus Water Treaty issue on September 26, asserting that India was violating the treaty provisions.
The timing of Kasuri’s video suggests an overlap between Pakistan’s terror machinery and its political leadership in pushing coordinated anti-India propaganda. Analysts note that while Pakistan highlights water issues and Kashmir, it continues to ignore the issue of terrorism originating from its own territory, a longstanding Indian concern.
Pakistan PM’s statements at international platforms
During the UN General Debate, Shehbaz Sharif condemned India’s decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it a violation of international law and describing any infringement as “an act of war.” He also reiterated Pakistan’s support for Kashmiri people, stating, “One day soon India’s tyranny in Kashmir will come to a halt.”
India’s move to put the treaty on abeyance was taken as a countermeasure against Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism, following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians. India has linked the reinstatement of the treaty to verifiable cessation of Pakistan-backed terrorism.
Historical context of the Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in September 1960 under World Bank mediation, allocates control over:
- Eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India
- Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan
While the treaty has endured wars and tensions, it has been criticized in India for perceived inequities in water allocation. India has repeatedly alleged that Pakistan uses treaty disputes to deflect international scrutiny from its support of terrorism.
Strategic implications
The viral video by Kasuri not only reiterates LeT’s threat posture against India but also intertwines with political narratives leveraged by Pakistan’s leadership, including water disputes and Kashmir issues. Analysts suggest such messaging aims to amplify anti-India sentiment domestically and internationally while downplaying Pakistan’s accountability in cross-border terrorism.
The convergence of terror threats, political statements, and natural disaster narratives underscores the complex interplay of security, diplomacy, and propaganda in the India-Pakistan bilateral context.