Why has Satluj movie banned just two days after its release in India?

By Agha Iqrar Haroon

Pakistan Army sent a loud and clear message to the Afghan Taliban to behave and stop sending terrorists into Pakistan, and to India to refrain from stopping river flows because it would be an Act of War and Pakistan would respond with full force.

The 276th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC), which was presided over by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, sent a loud and clear message to the Afghan Taliban to behave and stop sending terrorists into Pakistan.

According to the ISPR press release, the Forum expressed serious concerns over the continued use of territory under the control of the Afghan Taliban regime by Indian-sponsored terrorist groups, including Fitna al Khawarij (FAK) and Fitna al Hindustan (FAH), to orchestrate attacks inside Pakistan. The Forum affirmed that lasting peace and stability in the region are contingent upon preventing the use of Afghan Taliban-controlled territory by Indian terrorist proxies, for which the Afghan Taliban regime is directly responsible.

The Forum observed Pakistan has the unequivocal right to defend its people from terrorism, and the Armed Forces shall continue Intelligence-Based Operations against terrorism emanating from Afghan Taliban-controlled territory under the ambit of Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq. In addition to the kinetic actions, the Forum underscored the immediate need for putting in place robust governance structures in restive areas that are directed towards public service and welfare, as well as breaking the nefarious terror-crime nexus thriving under vested political patronage.

The Forum, taking note of Indian rhetoric surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), reaffirmed the guidance given in the National Security Committee (NSC) directive of 24 April 2025. The Forum expressed its resolute commitment to undertake all measures necessary to ensure the availability of Pakistan’s rightful share of water as per the directives of the Government and the aspirations of the people of Pakistan.

It may be remembered that the National Security Committee (NSC) of Pakistan, in its meeting of 24 April 2025, issued a formal statement in response to India’s measures following the 22 April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. One of India’s announced measures was the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960.

Regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, the NSC’s guidance was clear and limited. The key directive stated:

“Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, or the usurpation of the rights of the lower riparian, will be considered an Act of War and responded to with full force across the complete spectrum of National Power.”

The wording above comes from the Prime Minister’s Office, Government of Pakistan, press release issued after the National Security Committee meeting of 24 April 2025.

According to the press statement released by the Government of Pakistan following the National Security Committee Meeting on 24 April 2025:

“The National Security Committee noted that the Indus Waters Treaty is a binding international agreement brokered by the World Bank and contains no provision for unilateral suspension. Water is a vital national interest of Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million people, and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs. Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, or the usurpation of the rights of the lower riparian, will be considered an Act of War and responded to with full force across the complete spectrum of National Power.”

I believe that Pakistan’s defenders sent a loud and clear message to the Afghan Taliban to behave and stop terrorism through the 276th Corps Commanders’ Conference and reemphasized breaking the nefarious terror-crime nexus thriving under vested political patronage because in KP, political patronage of criminals as well as the TTP has been a serious problem for Pakistan’s military. The province has borne the brunt of terrorism. Despite repeated military operations and significant sacrifices by Pakistan’s armed forces, terrorist violence has resurged in recent years, raising serious questions about governance, intelligence coordination, and political accountability.

One of the most contentious issues is the relationship between provincial politics and national security, as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government has been following policies that are either too lenient towards illegal Afghan nationals or insufficiently supportive of federal counterterrorism efforts. It is pertinent to mention that law and order/security is the foremost duty of the provincial government under the 18th Amendment to the 1973 Constitution. The lenient attitude of the provincial government and politicians towards Afghans and Afghanistan is costing Pakistan heavily, and KP has become the primary battlefield where Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is deeply rooted in the political as well as administrative structure. Security experts have long argued that accurate documentation of residents is essential for intelligence gathering, law enforcement, and preventing militants from exploiting refugee populations or informal settlements. Political patronage of criminal elements has also remained a longstanding issue in KP. Local strongmen, land mafias, smugglers, and organized criminal networks make up a criminal-political-terrorism nexus, providing administrative and political protection and weakening prosecution. It is a proven fact that when criminal groups acquire political backing, they become increasingly difficult, particularly for federal agencies, to dismantle, and such patronage erodes public confidence and weakens the rule of law in KP. There is no doubt that the police in KP have earned recognition for their professionalism and sacrifices in counterterrorism operations, but they have limited resources despite the federal government having paid extra and substantial grants to the KP government to equip the provincial police. However, these grants are allegedly being siphoned off through corrupt practices. Moreover, policing alone cannot compensate for deficiencies in governance and judicial delays. Pakistan’s military has repeatedly emphasized that sustainable peace cannot be achieved solely through kinetic operations. Terrorist organizations exploit governance gaps, economic deprivation, ideological radicalization, and weak local institutions. Unless these underlying conditions are addressed, military successes may prove temporary.

The security of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a national responsibility. The province deserves effective governance, professional policing, coordinated intelligence, secure borders, and a justice system capable of dismantling both terrorist and criminal networks. Political parties, whether in government or opposition, must recognize that counterterrorism cannot succeed if it becomes another arena for partisan conflict.

Pakistan’s armed forces have made immense sacrifices in defending the country against terrorism. Those sacrifices should be matched by equally serious commitments from civilian institutions to strengthen governance, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that no criminal or militant network benefits from political influence or administrative weakness. Only through a coordinated national effort can KP move from being a frontline of conflict to a province of lasting peace and stability.