Pakistan, May 18 -- In the shadow of the snow-capped Himalayas, the Chenab River begins its vital descent, flowing from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir into the heart of Pakistan's Punjab. This journey is one of life, sustenance, and sovereignty for millions. Yet today, that life-giving flow stands imperiled not by nature but by a calculated policy shift. India's recent decision to dramatically expand the Ranbir Canal, increasing its capacity from 40 to a staggering 150 cubic meters per second (cumecs), announced just days after a fragile ceasefire, is seen by Pakistan not merely as infrastructure development but as retaliation-a deliberate squeeze on Pakistan's lifeblood cloaked in the guise of national security.

This aggressive m...