Pakistan threatens nuclear response as Indus Waters Treaty is suspended

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply this weekend after Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, warned that Islamabad could use its full military arsenal — including nuclear weapons — if attacked by India or if New Delhi attempts to block its water supply.

Speaking to Russia’s RT, Jamali cited alleged intelligence reports of imminent Indian strikes on Pakistani territory, and described India’s recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as an “act of war.” He added, “We in Pakistan will use the full spectrum of power, both conventional and nuclear.”

India’s decision to halt the IWT — a 1960 World Bank-brokered accord seen as a rare example of cooperation — came days after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. India blames Pakistan-based terror groups for the assault; Islamabad denies any role.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Islamabad would strike any Indian infrastructure built on the Indus in violation of the treaty. Simultaneously, Pakistan test-fired its Abdali missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, further heightening regional alert levels.

India responded by imposing a blanket ban on imports from or via Pakistan, halting port access to Pakistani vessels, suspending postal exchanges, and closing the Attari-Wagah border. Pakistan quickly issued reciprocal bans.

These developments mark the most severe deterioration in bilateral ties since 2019, with full-scale military confrontation and nuclear posturing now entering public discourse.

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