Pakistan Warns India Against Using Water as a Weapon Over Indus Treaty Dispute

On Tuesday, the Pakistani government issued a warning that any Indian effort to withhold Pakistan's water allocation under the Indus River Treaty would constitute the "use of water as a weapon," potentially leading to serious consequences for regional peace and security.

The statements were delivered by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other government officials during an international seminar focused on the 1960 treaty, which was brokered by the World Bank to regulate water sharing of the Indus river system between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The treaty has faced increasing strain after India suspended its participation following the killing of 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir in April. New Delhi attributed the attack to militants based in Pakistan, an accusation Islamabad denied while offering to participate in an independent investigation.

This incident triggered one of the most severe deteriorations in India-Pakistan relations in decades. Both countries downgraded diplomatic and trade ties, closed the main border crossing, and canceled visas for each other's citizens.

Tensions escalated further with a missile exchange in May 2025 before U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire, yet the relationship has remained tense since.

Foreign Minister Dar emphasized that "shared water should not be used as a weapon but must remain a bridge for cooperation, dialogue, and respect for international law, serving current and future generations."

Water Dispute at the Core of Indus River Tensions

Dar described water as a fundamental element for human dignity, food security, economic development, and environmental sustainability. He stressed that transboundary rivers should foster cooperation rather than confrontation.

He criticized India's 2025 decision to suspend the treaty as "illegal," underscoring that the agreement remains valid and binding, and no party has the right to unilaterally terminate its obligations under a treaty lacking such provisions.

Dar warned that any attempt to divert, cut, or reduce water allocated to Pakistan would be considered an "act of war," citing a Pakistani National Security Committee decision following India's suspension announcement.

In recent months, Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of violating the treaty since its suspension. At the same seminar, Mehr Ali Shah, chairman of Pakistan's Indus River System Authority, stated that India has reduced water flow in the Chenab River over recent months, contravening the treaty.

Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar emphasized that the treaty cannot be amended, canceled, or suspended unilaterally. He highlighted the treaty's growing importance amid climate change, glacier retreat, and worsening water scarcity—factors threatening long-term regional stability.

Details of the Indus Waters Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, governs water distribution between India and Pakistan. India controls the eastern rivers—Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas—while Pakistan receives water from the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

The treaty endured multiple wars and conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars and the 1999 Kargil conflict, remaining one of the few agreements sustained between the neighbors despite decades of Kashmir-related tensions.