On Pahalgam, imperial fortresses and Kashmir's settler colonialism
Given Kargil, IC 814, Mumbai 26/11, Uri, Pulwama, and now Pahalgam, India is justified in cutting ties to Pakistan, including trade, sports, the cringe Attari circus, and even diplomatic relations. India did once mass its forces at the Line of Control in Operation Parakram, but honouring the Shimla Agreement, did not cross.
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India.com
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5 days ago
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Manish Tewari on Congress's Narender Surrender jibe—‘nature of politics, back-channel talks nothing new'
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New Delhi: Former Union minister Manish Tewari, who travelled as part of an Operation Sindoor multi-party delegation, has downplayed the Congress party leadership's claim that the US President forced India to 'surrender' during May's four-day military conflict with Pakistan, saying back-channel conversations during such tense events were nothing new. 'It has been going on since 1990 as I documented with the Robert Gates mission when Pakistan started flashing the N (nuclear) word even eight years before its nuclear test in response to some fantasized Indian buildup in the western deserts, to Operation Parakram in 2001, to the Mumbai terror outrage in 2008, to Uri to Pulwama, and to Pahalgam and its aftermath. The only difference is while earlier back channeling was a quiet process, but now you have an incumbent in the White House who believes that back channeling is front channeling,' Tewari said. His remarks assume significance against the backdrop of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Narender Surrender' jibes, suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave in to US pressure to call off the military operation against Pakistan on 10 May. Gandhi reiterated his allegation Friday while addressing a rally in Bihar. Tewari, who is also a lawyer, suggested that Trump's claims that his administration played the role of a mediator was likely to be a stretch as that was a completely different format altogether. In contrast, the UN's attempt to resolve the Kashmir dispute in 1948 at the insistence of New Delhi was an attempt at mediation, Tewari said. 'Mediation has a more structured connotation to it, but, fortunately or unfortunately these terms keep getting used alternatively. And therefore it leads to a certain sense of ambiguity. 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Modi govt move to punish Pakistan by suspending Indus water treaty leaves Pakistan…, Bilawal Bhutto makes shocking remarks
Pakistan has once again warned of nuclear war against India. This time, the threat comes in response to India's decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty. Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made the comments during his visit to the United States. On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Bilawal was speaking at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. While addressing the gathering, he strongly criticized India and accused it of violating the water-sharing treaty, which he claimed is putting Pakistan's water resources at serious risk. According to a report by Pakistan's newspaper Dawn, Bilawal said, 'We have made it clear that cutting off our water supply is an act of war.' He added in a serious tone, 'This isn't just about nationalism or political statements. We're not saying this for effect—this is about our survival. No country in the world, no matter how big or powerful it is, will sit quietly if its water and future are threatened. Every country will fight for its water.' 'Water wars were once just a theory,' Bilawal said. 'But by shutting off Pakistan's water supply, India is laying the foundations for an existential conflict — one that could escalate to nuclear proportions.' He also requested the United States to step in and bring India to the discussion table regarding the Indus Water Treaty, saying dialogue is the only way forward to avoid conflict. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that India must follow the Indus Water Treaty, and countries like the United States and others should take a strong stand to prevent India from breaking this agreement. He added that if talks and diplomacy are to succeed and if Pakistan wants to have positive relations with India, including new deals and agreements, then India must first honor the old treaties and take back its decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty. Bilawal also mentioned that tensions between the two countries increased after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Following this, India suspended the Indus Water Treaty. In response, Pakistan decided to use its right to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the Shimla Agreement. Pakistan also announced the closure of the Attari-Wagah border and suspended all trade with India. The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960, with the World Bank acting as a mediator. Under this treaty, India was given control of the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), and Pakistan got the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab). But after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India took strict steps against Pakistan, which included suspending this treaty.
