Himanta Tears Into Pakistan Over Brahmaputra River Threat: 'Even If China...'

Last Updated:June 03, 2025, 08:11 IST

Himanta Biswa Sarma blasted Pakistan over its claim that the suspension of IWT could set a precedent for China to block water of Brahmaputra to India.

Himanta slams Pakistan over bizarre comment on Brahmaputra river (PTI Image)

In a sharp response to Pakistan’s latest “scare narrative", Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday took down the rhetoric that China could choke the flow of the Brahmaputra to India with facts, stating that the river “grows in India, not shrinks".

His remarks came after a senior aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Ihsaan Afzal, claimed that the suspension of Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan could set a precedent for China to block the Brahmaputra River to India.

“If India does something like this, they stop the flow to Pakistan, then China can also do the same thing. But if things like this happen, then the entire world will be in a war," Afzal told Geo News.

Himanta Biswa Sarma Tears Pakistan Narrative

Taking to X, Sarma dismissed the possibility of China cutting off Brahmaputra’s waters, describing the claims to be Pakistan’s latest “manufactured threat" in the wake of India’s move to put Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.

“After India decisively moved away from the outdated Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan is now spinning another manufactured threat: “What if China stops the Brahmaputra’s water to India?"," Sarma posted on X.

Setting the record straight with geographical and hydrological data, the Chief Minister of the northeastern state emphasised that China contributes only 30–35% of the Brahmaputra’s total flow—largely through glacial melt and limited rainfall over Tibet.

He said that a vast majority (65–70%) of the river’s volume is generated in India through monsoon rainfall and a chain of tributaries.

“The remaining 65–70% is generated within India, thanks to: Torrential monsoon rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. Major tributaries like Subansiri, Lohit, Kameng, Manas, Dhansiri, Jia-Bharali, Kopili. Additional inflows from the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia Hills via rivers such as Krishnai, Digaru, and Kulsi," Sarma said.

Brahmaputra Strengthens After Entering India: Himanta

He underlined that the strength of the river intensifies only after entering Indian territory. “At the Indo-China border (Tuting): Flow is ~2,000–3,000 m³/s. In Assam plains (e.g., Guwahati): Flow swells to 15,000–20,000 m³/s during monsoon," he said.

The Chief Minister flipped Pakistan’s narrative on its head and said any reduction in the river’s water by China “may actually help India mitigate the annual floods in Assam."

“Even if China were to reduce water flow (unlikely as China has never threatened or indicated in any official forum), it may actually help India mitigate the annual floods in Assam, which displace lakhs and destroy livelihoods every year. Meanwhile, Pakistan — which has exploited 74 years of preferential water access under the Indus Waters Treaty — now panics as India rightfully reclaims its sovereign rights," he said.

The Chief Minister said that Brahmaputra is not controlled by a single source, but is “powered by our geography, our monsoon, and our civilisational resilience".

Ashesh Mallick

Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes...Read More

Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes...

Read More

Location :

Assam, India, India

First Published:

News india Himanta Tears Into Pakistan Over Brahmaputra River Threat: 'Even If China...'