Saifullah Kasuri, deputy chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba, issued a video threat to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, declaring that the rivers and dams of Jammu & Kashmir would “belong to us,” and promising retribution for Operation Sindoor. Intelligence sources say the video surfaced in Pakistan and is being scrutinised by multiple agencies.
In the clip, Kasuri directly addresses Modi, saying the “resolve remains strong” and vowing to “avenge the blood of our brothers,” referring implicitly to the Pahalgam terror attack which claimed 26 lives earlier this year. He frames the threat as retaliation for Operation Sindoor, India’s cross-border retaliatory strikes following that attack.
Indian authorities are treating the video as a serious security concern. Sources familiar with the matter say Kasuri operates with substantial backing, and is believed to have safe havens. Reports suggest coordination with ISI-linked networks, and use of proxy groups like The Resistance Front to carry out operations in Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir.
Kasuri’s claim about rivers and dams comes amid heightened tensions over water infrastructure in the region. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty earlier this year, citing concerns over limitations imposed by the treaty and its impact on development of hydroelectric and irrigation projects. Key dam projects, such as the Bursar and Pakal Dul hydroelectric projects on the Marusudar River, are underway or expedited following policy shifts.
The Indian government has responded strongly in public statements. Prime Minister Modi has asserted that India will not tolerate “nuclear blackmail” and that terrorism will be met with decisive retaliatory action. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has emphasised that Operation Sindoor was a proportionate response to the Pahalgam attack, and that the onus to de-escalate lies with Pakistan.
Security analysts warn that such statements contribute to rising risk of escalation. While India has increased coordination among its military, intelligence, and civil defence bodies, the mixed signals from Pakistan — denying direct involvement, but being accused of providing support to groups like LeT and JeM — complicate risk assessments.
Communal and political reactions within India have been strong. Opposition figures have asked for clarity on Kishenganga and Ratle dam rulings under the suspended Indus Treaty. Several states have demanded enhanced protection of water infrastructure, labeling “rivers and dams” threats as novel fronts in hybrid warfare. Military planners are treating Kasuri’s message as part of information operations possibly designed to foment distrust and fear among local populations.
Kasuri’s past alleged role in planning the Pahalgam attack has been documented in Indian investigative reports. He is described as a senior LeT commander with links to Hafiz Saeed, with operational control over TRF. His claim of responsibility has been contested by his denial that he was involved in the attack, and Indian agencies continue to build cases on intelligence intercepts, digital footprints, and sketches of terrorists involved.
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