India lacks capacity to block or divert water, admits Shashi Tharoor

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and Indian opposition figure Shashi Tharoor has admitted that India lacks both the infrastructure to store water and the technology to divert rivers, making any attempt to cut Pakistan’s water supply unrealistic.

Speaking on the recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Tharoor clarified that the agreement has not been revoked but merely suspended. “This move is largely symbolic,” he said. “We can’t say that Pakistan will stop receiving water from tomorrow—it’s simply not feasible.”

He added, “Where will the water go? We certainly can’t flood India. The country doesn’t have the means to manage or redirect that water.”

Tharoor also acknowledged an intelligence failure in the Pahalgam incident, questioning whether India should prioritize a proper investigation before issuing a response.