Next Indo-Pak war could be fought over water: Saeed

The next war between India and Pakistan could be fought over water, Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed has claimed. Saeed, who currently heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, made the remarks while addressing a gathering at a mosque in Chowburji area of Lahore on Sunday.

He claimed India was diverting the flow of rivers in Jammu and Kashmir by building dams and tunnels in a bid to turn Pakistan into a desert and to "spoil the regional situation". Saeed, who remained out of the public eye for over a year following the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by the LeT, called on the people of Pakistan to stand united against India and to oppose the construction of dams that allegedly rob the country of its share of river waters.

The next war between India and Pakistan could be fought over water if India does not stop its "water terrorism", Saeed said. Pakistan has often accused India of diverting its share of waters from rivers in Jammu and Kashmir though New Delhi has denied the charges.

Saeed further claimed that India and the US were facing "defeat" in Jammu and Kashmir and Afghanistan. The US is searching for a "safe exit" from Afghanistan and India is worried about what would happen to it after the US withdrawal from the region, he said. Over the past two months, the JuD and other militant groups like the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen have organised several gatherings and rallies in which they have backed calls for 'jihad' against India and expressed support for militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

Saeed has openly called for 'jehad' against India, saying the Pakistan government should prepare the people to counter the "war" imposed by India.

The JuD chief was placed under house arrest in Lahore in December 2008 after his group was declared a front for the LeT by the UN Security Council in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks. He was freed after about six months on the orders of the Lahore High Court.

The Pakistan government challenged Saeed's release in the Supreme Court but no hearing has been held for several months after the case was adjourned for various reasons.