New Delhi: Pakistan has intensified its rhetoric over the Indus Waters Treaty, issuing a sharp warning amid growing tensions with India over the sharing of river waters governed by the decades old agreement.
Speaking during a press conference, Pakistan’s climate leadership accused India of attempting to control water flows destined for Pakistan and warned of serious consequences if the country’s share of water was restricted. The remarks included a strong declaration that any attempt to seize Pakistan’s water rights would be met with a firm response.
The issue holds major significance for Pakistan, where a substantial portion of the population depends on agriculture for employment and income. Officials argued that any disruption in water availability could affect food security, livelihoods and a significant section of the national economy.
Pakistan also maintained that water should continue flowing irrespective of political disputes, pointing out that international conventions often govern water sharing arrangements even where formal treaties do not exist. It reiterated that the Indus Waters Treaty remains valid and enforceable under international law.
The comments come after India decided to place the treaty in abeyance following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in 2025 that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. New Delhi has since maintained that the agreement will remain suspended until concrete action is taken against cross border terrorism originating from Pakistani territory.
India has also stated its intention to fully utilise its share of waters under the treaty in the coming years, asserting that water allocated to the country will no longer flow unused across the border.
Brokered in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty has long regulated the sharing and use of the Indus river system between the two neighbours.
