Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has firmly dismissed recent concerns voiced by Pakistan over the potential threat of China halting the Brahmaputra River's flow to India. Responding to speculation on social media that raised fears about the river being used as a geopolitical weapon, Sarma labelled the rhetoric as baseless and rooted in fear-mongering rather than facts.
In a post on X , Sarma dismantled the narrative by presenting a detailed, data-backed analysis of the Brahmaputra’s hydrology. He emphasized that the river’s primary strength comes not from China but from Indian geography and the monsoon system. “Let’s dismantle this myth, not with fear, but with facts and national clarity,” he wrote.
Sarma clarified that only about 30 to 35 percent of the Brahmaputra’s water volume originates from China, largely due to glacial melt and limited rainfall on the Tibetan plateau. In contrast, the remaining 65 to 70 percent of the river’s flow is generated within India through seasonal monsoon rains and inputs from northeastern tributaries.
Hydrological data supports Sarma’s claim: while the river flow at the Tuting point near the Indo-China border averages 2,000–3,000 cubic meters per second, it surges dramatically to 15,000–20,000 cubic meters per second in Assam during the monsoon. This stark difference underlines India's dominant contribution to the river's volume. “The Brahmaputra is not a river India depends on upstream. It is a rain-fed Indian river system, strengthened after entering Indian territory,” he added.
Sarma also countered the hypothetical fear that China could weaponize the river, suggesting that even if Beijing reduced the flow, it could potentially benefit Assam by reducing seasonal floods that impact hundreds of thousands annually.
China has never officially issued threats to cut off Brahmaputra’s water, and Sarma dismissed the suggestion as speculative and politically driven. He linked Pakistan’s concerns to its longstanding reliance on the Indus Waters Treaty, suggesting that the country is now uneasy as India asserts its own water sovereignty.
Taking a direct jab, Sarma wrote that Pakistan is “panicking” as India grows more confident and better informed about its river systems and rights. He concluded by calling the Brahmaputra a symbol of India’s resilience, geography, and civilizational strength, not a resource vulnerable to external manipulation. As regional water security continues to be a sensitive topic, Sarma’s strong response positions India as not only prepared but well-informed and equipped to deal with hydrological diplomacy and misinformation alike.
