SINDH IS BURNING, India's Indus Water Treaty Suspension is Breaking Pakistan Inside
Pakistan’s Sindh province is in flames—literally, not metaphorically. The current chaos isn’t about politics or religion, nor about celebrity gossip or cricket debates. It’s about water—life’s most basic necessity. And now, it’s at the heart of a crisis that’s exposing deep cracks in Pakistan’s foundation.
In the past few days, the region has witnessed a stunning revolt. Two civilians are dead. A provincial minister’s house has been reduced to ashes. Streets are ablaze. Protesters are wielding AK-47s. Police vehicles are being destroyed. This is no ordinary protest—it’s a rebellion sparked by something most of us take for granted: access to water.
At the heart of this unrest is the mighty Indus River, Pakistan’s lifeline. Originating in Tibet, flowing through Ladakh and PoK, the Indus nourishes the length and breadth of Pakistan—but most crucially, Sindh. It’s the only significant river that quenches the thirst of this southern province.
Yet, Pakistan’s Punjab province, the political powerhouse of the country, has been aggressively pushing for canal projects to divert more of the Indus water upstream—for reviving the Cholistan Desert. This is being done under the guise of “development,” but for Sindh’s people, it’s a death sentence.
They’re not wrong. Punjab’s plan to hoard more Indus water means Sindh will receive drastically less—impacting agriculture, drinking water, and daily survival. Already, water supply in several parts of Sindh has reduced by 50%, and rainfall is down by 52%. With reservoirs drying up and rainwater harvesting no longer an option, desperation has turned into rage.
The Pakistani government’s apathy is fueling this fire. It’s no secret that Islamabad has long functioned with a Punjab-first mentality—neglecting provinces like Balochistan and Sindh. This isn’t just inequality—it’s systemic exploitation.
Amidst all this, India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty—a decades-old agreement that allows Pakistan access to rivers originating from India—has acted as a geopolitical pressure point. While controversial, it has had a significant side effect: it forced Pakistan to pause the Cholistan Canal Project temporarily. Six massive canals were being built to green the desert at Sindh’s cost. That project is now on hold—but Sindh’s people know it’s only a pause.
The fear is that Pakistan’s army, under the ambitious Asim Munir, will revive the project with military might. That’s why the people of Sindh are revolting today—not just against water cuts, but against decades of injustice and exploitation.
Let’s be clear: this is not just a domestic issue within Pakistan. It’s a humanitarian crisis and a regional flashpoint. India must pay close attention, not to fuel conflict, but to uphold truth. If an entire province is being stripped of its water to benefit another, its call for autonomy or even independence becomes morally justified.
And yes, India’s case for suspending the Indus Water Treaty grows stronger when we see how Pakistan uses shared resources to punish its own people.
Sindh is burning—not because of foreign enemies—but because of internal greed, centralization, and water injustice. The flames might be local, but the consequences are geopolitical. And as the fires rage on, one thing is clear—Pakistan is breaking from within.