Kashmir: The Jugular Vein of Pakistan – A Prophetic Statement in Light of the 2025 Indus Waters Treaty Suspension In a defining statement, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah once declared, “ Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan .” These words were not mere rhetoric; they carried deep geopolitical, strategic, and economic implications. Today, in April 2025, as India officially suspends the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)—a vital accord governing water distribution between the two nations—Jinnah's statement finds renewed significance. The decision to suspend the treaty directly affects Pakistan's lifeline: its rivers, its agriculture, and ultimately its sovereignty. This article explores how Quaid-e-Azam’s words find true meaning in the present crisis, the importance of the Indus river system to Pakistan, and what future scenarios may unfold from this watershed moment in South Asian geopolitics. Quaid-e-Azam’s Statement: A Strategic Vision Quaid-e-Azam called Kashmir the jugular vein ...
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with the World Bank's mediation, has been a cornerstone of water-sharing diplomacy in South Asia. However, recent developments have put this long-standing agreement under unprecedented strain. Overview of the Indus Waters Treaty The IWT allocates the waters of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan: Western Rivers : Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab are allocated to Pakistan. Eastern Rivers : Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej are allocated to India. While India has rights over the eastern rivers, it is permitted limited use of the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes like hydroelectric power generation, navigation, and agriculture, without altering the flow to Pakistan. Significance of the Treaty 1. Conflict Mitigation : Despite multiple wars and ongoing tensions, the IWT has endured, serving as a rare example of sustained cooperation. 2. Economic Stability: For Pakis...