Politics

Himanta Biswa Sarma hits back at Pakistan over Brahmaputra: ‘China cut may help Assam’

Sarma noted that a reduction in the c's flow could actually benefit Assam, as the state faces annual floods that displace hundreds of thousands of people and cause widespread damage to property and crops

PGurus Newsdesk

June 3, 2025

Sarma noted that a reduction in the c's flow could actually benefit Assam, as the state faces annual floods that displace hundreds of thousands of people and cause widespread damage to property and crops

Sarma refutes Pakistan’s Brahmaputra warning

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly rejected Pakistan’s suggestion that China might weaponize the Brahmaputra River‘s water flow to pressure India. Speaking via a post on social media platform X, Sarma called the warning a “manufactured threat” and said the river is not controlled by a single upstream source.

China’s role in Brahmaputra flow is limited

Sarma explained that China contributes only around 30–35% of the Brahmaputra’s total water flow, mainly through glacial melt and minor rainfall in Tibet. The remaining 65–70% of the river’s volume is generated within Indian territory, making India the primary contributor to the river’s strength.

What If China Stops Brahmaputra Water to India?
A Response to Pakistan’s New Scare Narrative
After India decisively moved away from the outdated Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan is now spinning another manufactured threat: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?”…
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 2, 2025

Pakistan’s claims linked to the Indus Waters Treaty suspension

The remarks from Pakistan came after India’s move to exit the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old water-sharing agreement. A top aide to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speculated that China might retaliate on Pakistan’s behalf by limiting the Brahmaputra’s water flow.

Sarma responded by highlighting the self-sufficiency of India’s rain-fed river systems. “The Brahmaputra is not a river India depends on upstream. It is a rain-fed Indian river system, strengthened after entering Indian territory,” he tweeted.

Lower water flow could reduce Assam’s flood risk

Sarma pointed out that reducing the Brahmaputra’s flow could actually benefit Assam. The state suffers from annual floods that displace hundreds of thousands of residents and damage property and crops.

“This year alone, over 5 lakh people have been affected by floods in Assam, and 36 deaths have been reported in the northeast,” he said.

He added, “Even if China were to reduce water flow, which is unlikely and has never been officially indicated, it may help Assam by lessening the flood impact.”

Geographic context

The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo, flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and continues into Bangladesh as the Jamuna River before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

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