'We will choke you': Pak army spokesperson sparks row with Hafiz Saeed-like threat to India over water dispute | Watch
PTC Web Desk: Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared yet again, this time over a controversial statement made by a senior Pakistani military official that has drawn sharp criticism for resembling the rhetoric of a proscribed terror outfit.
In a widely circulated video, Pakistan army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry is seen issuing a veiled threat to India during an event at a university in Pakistan. Referring to water-sharing disputes under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), he warned, "If you block our water, we will choke you." The comment is being widely interpreted as a reaction to India's recent move to reassess the 1960 treaty in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir.
A spokesperson for the Pakistani military issued a warning to India regarding the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty,
quoting terrorist Hafiz Saeed with the statement: ‘If you cut off our water, we will cut off your breath.’pic.twitter.com/hl45IPfLVM — Harsh Patel (@Harshpatel1408) May 23, 2025
Observers quickly pointed out the chilling similarity between Chaudhry’s statement and a past speech by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed. In a recorded speech that has resurfaced online, Saeed had reportedly declared, "If you stop the water, God willing, we will stop your breath, and then blood shall follow in these rivers." The rhetorical overlap has raised concerns about the ideological proximity between elements of Pakistan’s military establishment and extremist groups.
He seems to have copied Lashkr e Taiba’s founder Hafiz Saeed word for word “If India stops the water we will stop their breath” I guess the Pakistani military establishment shares a script with recognized terrorists. ????????♀️ pic.twitter.com/b6dG4vi4V1 — Mariam Solaimankhil (@Mariamistan) May 22, 2025
The online backlash was swift. Mariam Solaimankhil, an Afghan politician and former Member of Parliament, condemned the statement on social media, saying: "He seems to have copied Lashkar-e-Taiba’s founder Hafiz Saeed word for word. ‘If India stops the water, we will stop their breath.’ I guess the Pakistani military establishment shares a script with recognised terrorists."
India, which has repeatedly accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, recently hinted at reconsidering the Indus Waters Treaty as part of a broader strategy to pressure Islamabad following the Pahalgam attack that left several security personnel injured and heightened regional security concerns.
Signed in 1960 with the mediation of the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty has been a cornerstone of India-Pakistan water diplomacy, even surviving multiple armed conflicts. However, given the worsening security environment and what New Delhi views as a lack of accountability on Pakistan’s part, the agreement is now under increased scrutiny.
- With inputs from agencies
