Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar warned India against weaponizing the Indus Waters Treaty on Friday.
He said attempts to deprive Pakistan of its allocated waters could carry profound consequences for regional peace. Dar made the remarks during a virtual Washington seminar on the treaty and South Asian security.
He stressed that Pakistan would protect its legitimate rights under the treaty and international law. According to Dar, the 1960 agreement remains valid, binding, and fully operational despite India’s unilateral decision.
Pakistan Rejects India’s Treaty Suspension
India announced in April 2025 that it would place its treaty obligations in abeyance. New Delhi made the decision after the Pahalgam attack killed 26 tourists in occupied Kashmir.
India blamed Pakistan for the attack, while Islamabad strongly rejected the allegations. Pakistan also called for a neutral investigation into the incident.
Dar said the treaty contains no provision allowing either country to suspend it unilaterally. He argued that political declarations cannot erase obligations established under international law.
He also highlighted the treaty’s importance beyond Pakistan-India relations. According to Dar, the dispute concerns treaty sanctity and confidence in international legal frameworks.
Water Security Remains Pakistan’s Lifeline
Dar said geography makes cooperation essential because countries cannot change river flows. He noted that the treaty survived wars, military crises, diplomatic tensions, and political breakdowns for over six decades.
Pakistan continues using treaty mechanisms to address disputes over Indian hydroelectric projects. These include the Kishenganga and Ratle projects on Western Rivers.
The Court of Arbitration in The Hague has also continued proceedings concerning treaty interpretation and implementation. Dar said arbitration and other treaty mechanisms represent legal solutions rather than confrontation.
The treaty gives India control over three eastern rivers while Pakistan primarily receives the western rivers. These include the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, subject to specified Indian uses.
Dar called the Indus Basin a lifeline for more than 250 million Pakistanis. He said water security directly affects Pakistan’s food, energy, economy, and national security.
