Federation of Western India Cine Employees

Amidst heightened tensions following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a video has surfaced showing an Indian fan sending packaged drinking water to Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. The gesture, labeled “To Hania Aamir, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. From India,” has elicited a range of reactions online, from amusement to criticism. The Indus Waters Treaty was suspended by India on April 23rd, a day after a terror attack near Pahalgam. The treaty, which has survived several wars, governs the sharing of water from the Indus basin, with India controlling the eastern rivers and Pakistan relying on the western rivers. Pakistan has strongly condemned the suspension. In the now-viral video, a group of young men are seen packing water bottles into a box addressed to the popular Pakistani actress. The act appears to be a symbolic, albeit perhaps satirical, response to the treaty suspension and its potential implications for water resources in Pakistan. Hania Aamir, known for her roles in popular dramas, had earlier expressed her condolences for the victims of the Pahalgam attack on her social media, emphasizing that “tragedy anywhere is a tragedy for all of us.” The online reaction to the video has been mixed. Some users found the gesture humorous, while others deemed it insensitive given the backdrop of the terror attack and the strained relations between the two countries. One user commented, “Bro really cares about Hania,” while another criticized the act, suggesting a boycott of Pakistani dramas in India. This incident occurs against a backdrop of increasing friction. Following the Pahalgam attack, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) imposed a complete ban on Pakistani artists working in Indian projects. Additionally, social media accounts of several Pakistani celebrities, including Hania Aamir, were reportedly blocked for users in India. Hania Aamir herself recently addressed a fake statement attributed to her online, clarifying that she had not made any such remarks and urging empathy and truth during this sensitive time. She emphasized that extremists’ actions do not represent an entire nation. While the intent behind the packaged water remains open to interpretation, it serves as a stark reminder of the complex and often intertwined relationship between the people of India and Pakistan, even amidst political tensions.