Jaishankar Slams Congress in Rajya Sabha, Says ‘Blood and Water Cannot Flow Together’ as Indus Treaty Held in Abeyance

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday witnessed a high-voltage exchange as External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar fiercely criticised the Congress party during a special debate on Operation Sindoor. Responding to Opposition remarks over India’s global standing, Jaishankar accused Congress leaders of drawing false equivalence between India and Pakistan and undermining India’s position on the world stage.

“Congress is equating India with Pakistan,” he said, alleging that such comparisons reflect a poor understanding of India’s geopolitical realities. “Their statements serve to blur the lines between the victim and the aggressor. The world watches our unity. When we divide internally, we weaken our diplomacy.”

Jaishankar recounted a series of past terror incidents, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the 2008 Delhi blasts, to argue that India has long suffered from cross-border terrorism while consistently maintaining global restraint. “Back in 2006, during the Havana statement, instead of squarely blaming Pakistan, we diluted our stand by saying we condemn terrorism in all forms and resumed dialogue. That set a wrong precedent,” he said.

On the Indus Water Treaty, Jaishankar made a significant announcement: “The Indus Water Treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan gives up terrorism irrevocably. Blood and water will not flow together.” He stressed the extraordinary generosity of the treaty, noting, “I can’t recall any other agreement where a nation allows its most significant rivers to freely flow into a hostile neighbour without retaining usage rights.”

Congress, however, pushed back. Party MP Rahul Gandhi questioned the diplomatic fallout of Operation Sindoor and India’s growing isolation. “Not one neighbour condemned Pakistan. They only condemned terrorism. Is our diplomacy failing, or are we not even trying?” he asked.

He also took aim at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for what he called a “calculated omission” of China. “If our territory is threatened by both Pakistan and China, why this selective silence?” Gandhi remarked. He raised concerns over the United States’ continued engagement with Pakistan’s military. “While India is calling Pakistan a terror state, the US is having coffee with Asim Munir and discussing joint counter-terrorism. Where is our diplomatic leverage?” he asked.