Pakistan, Aug. 12 -- India's stance on the Indus Waters Treaty has long gone beyond mere rhetoric and crossed into dangerous brinkmanship. By rejecting the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling and branding it a "charade," New Delhi seeks to delegitimise the very framework that has kept a fragile peace over shared waters for more than six decades. That it is an attempt to rewrite the rules in its favour, with Pakistan's lifeline in the crosshairs, cannot be emphasised enough.

The strategy can be read from afar. Modi's administration, using the rhetoric of 'revisiting' the Treaty, stirs domestic nationalism while continuing to build upstream projects like Kishanganga and Ratle that gradually erode Pakistan's rightful share under the gui...