India, July 8 -- Pakistan's well-established public relations apparatus has launched an aggressive campaign against India's plan to optimise the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab). Pakistan's rhetoric has grown increasingly alarmist, employing scare tactics such as describing India's actions as "weaponisation of water" and issuing dire warnings like "cutting off India's hand" if water supplies are severed. Some officials have gone even further, warning that any interference with water flows would constitute an "act of war" with possible nuclear retaliation.

Pakistan has also sought to internationalise the treaty by bringing up the climate crisis and related issues. The arguments are designed to ga...