# Pakistan's Khwaja Asif Discusses Options in Indus Waters Dispute With India - Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2118648261778997394 - Source account: [@Ltcolonelvikas](https://x.com/Ltcolonelvikas) - Source language: English - Duration: 6:24 - Published: 2026-11-10 - Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india ## Transcript [0:03](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=3) On to a CNN News 18 exclusive, Pakistan Defense Minister Khwaja Asif has threatened India amid the continuing dispute over the Indus Water Treaty. [0:10](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=10) Khwaja Asif says that Pakistan is actively reviewing its options and that discussions are underway in the highest levels of government on what further steps may be required. [0:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=18) Responding to questions on whether Pakistan could consider a more aggressive response, Khwaja Asif says Islamabad would increase its stakes if necessary and is closely monitoring India's moves. [0:30](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=30) However, he stopped short of announcing any immediate action. [0:33](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=33) Let's first listen in. [0:39](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=39) You said in one of my shows once, you said, "If this limit increases and they do these legal structures, we can even strike." [0:47](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=47) Tell me this, we are hearing that maybe some big strategic decisions are being taken because those legal constructions have not slowed down, but they are happening. [0:55](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=55) I don't think anyone at this time, uh, I can foresee any definitive, uh, solution on the horizon. [1:02](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=62) Uh, uh, I can't see it. But what you said, I endorse it, that it has slowed down a bit. [1:10](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=70) We are continuously evaluating this situation. [1:13](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=73) Okay. Wherever we have to increase our bets in this whole situation, then naturally there will be discussion about it within the, the, uh, you know, top circles of, uh, the g- government, that what alternate can be found for this or what steps can be taken. [1:39](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=99) Let's bring in Anand Narsimhan into the conversation. Good morning, Anand. [1:42](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=102) The fact of the matter here is that Pakistan's water security is under threat because of its own doing, isn't it? [1:48](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=108) India making it amply clear time and again that blood and water cannot flow together. [1:53](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=113) And so Pakistan, A, in complete denial, B, does this come across as a direct threat being issued to India? [2:01](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=121) Uh, good morning, Christine, and to our viewers. [2:02](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=122) This is important that the Indus Water Treaty or it, uh, being kept in abeyance is hurting Pakistan. [2:09](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=129) Understand that very clearly. The Pakistanis are very, very, uh, upset, hurt, and hurting, uh, because the, because of the fact that they are worried that if Bharat uses its entire legal allotment of twenty percent of the waters, [2:24](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=144) that means that, uh, they are going to face a huge amount of issues on ground. [2:28](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=148) See, as of now, Bharat is not making any illegal constructions. [2:32](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=152) We are... Bharat is only doing what is legally sanctioned, and we, uh, Bharat has not even used the legal allotment of, uh, Indus Water Treaty. [2:41](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=161) But yes, certain measures which Bharat is taking, that is of dredging, de-silting, et cetera, raises concerns downstream for the Pakistanis who were getting away with a huge amount of water and largesse coming from Bharat and tilling their lands. [2:55](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=175) So now they are going to, uh, be careful. [2:58](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=178) The other part is that Khwaja Asif says that they will try and take whatever measures they can. [3:03](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=183) But it's the, it's the anchor who's boarding on punitive measures and not... [3:06](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=186) It's actually Khwaja Asif's, uh, conversation or, or tone is, is quite tepid. [3:11](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=191) It's not belligerent. It's, uh, it doesn't smack of braggadocio. [3:15](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=195) What it does is, uh, a very, very, uh, tentative step forward, uh, not knowing what the length of the ball is and how fast the bowler is going to bowl. That's what's gonna happen. [3:25](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=205) That's the, that's the approach that Khwaja Asif as a defense minister is taking. [3:29](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=209) But yes, one thing that we must, uh, understand clearly is that the Pakistanis, uh, for them, this is a huge worry. [3:36](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=216) Indus Water Treaty being kept in, uh, abeyance is a huge worry, and it is hurting. [3:40](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=220) And it is supposed to hurt the Pakistanis because that is the reason why Bharat said that blood and water cannot flow together. [3:47](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=227) And Bharat is very, very serious. Uh, although they are monitoring very carefully, they are saying that, okay, construction has slowed down. [3:53](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=233) But that is also because certain projects which in the past Bharat had never even undertaken have now been activated at different levels in the upper riparian areas of the, of the five rivers. [4:02](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=242) So that is the reason why the Pakistanis are repeatedly being, uh, you know, cautious about it and being asked. [4:08](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=248) But as of now, on today, Pakistan is not even able to support or, uh, uh, manage matters within its own borders and in occupied, and its occupied territories. [4:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=258) Well, it, it doesn't come, uh, as a surprise that they are going to be tentative about taking any strong action against Bharat in the near future. [4:27](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=267) Hmm. So, so almost stating that military action could follow if India rapidly alters water flows into Pakistan, Anand, but the fact of the matter as we've been discussing is that India has made its position amply clear in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. [4:40](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=280) The other important aspect to this is so far there's a certain seasonal cushion that Pakistan has enjoyed, right? [4:44](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=284) And so they've not faced the worst repercussions of this, uh, treaty being put in abeyance, but that's not going to be a for-forever story for Pakistan. [4:53](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=293) It is not. It is not. And the other thing is that, uh, they still are in denial about the hammering that they've got in Operation Zindood. [5:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=300) They seem to still have this entire delusion- Hmm ... that they won the war. [5:03](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=303) That is not the case. Bharat was upset, and Bharat continues to remain upset till Pakistan behaves. [5:08](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=308) As of now, what we are seeing is Pakistan is living on loans. [5:12](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=312) Had, had Saudi Arabia not extended its own loan, loan of three billion dollars and rolled it over, uh, you know, Pakistan would not have been eligible for the one point two billion dollars bailout that it's going to receive from the IMF in December. [5:24](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=324) So it is, it is on borrowed time that the Pakistan economy is standing. [5:28](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=328) It is on borrowed time that the Pakistan military itself is operating. [5:32](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=332) Uh, what the money that they are using to buy supplies, et cetera, are ill-gotten money from drugs, from smuggling, or from crypto. [5:40](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=340) It is not even... And it's a parallel economy that is, uh, holding Pakistan as of today. [5:45](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=345) In such a scenario, for them to even think that they can mount an offensive against Bharat is not going to be possible. [5:51](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=351) And if they believe, I mean, they sit there and claim that they are going to destroy or attack, uh, you know, structures within Bharat, uh, you know, we have to look at it and say, "All right, come out and try, and see then what we do to you," because Operation Zindood is not being called off. [6:07](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=367) There is just a pause button on it. The unpause happens- Yeah ... then there is, uh, massive, uh, collateral damage that the Pakistani military is going to face. Hmm. [6:16](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=376) Many thanks, Anand, for giving us, uh, that all-important overview. [6:19](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=379) That's all we could pack for you in this edition of news. [6:22](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/VorwRhVYSd7F/en/pakistan-s-khwaja-asif-discusses-options-in-indus-waters-dispute-with-india?t=382) Thanks for staying with us. We'll return with our top stories.