Pakistan has strongly condemned India’s unilateral decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it an illegal and destabilizing move, and vowed to take all necessary measures to protect its water rights.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level meeting on the treaty, attended by the ministers of law and water resources, the Attorney General, senior officials, and technical experts. The meeting was convened to devise Pakistan’s strategic response following India’s announcement to halt the treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
Speaking after the session, Dar stated, “The Indus River is the lifeline for Pakistan’s 240 million people. The sanctity of this vital water source will be safeguarded at all costs.” He reaffirmed that Pakistan condemns any attempts by India to weaponize water and emphasized that the treaty is a cornerstone of regional stability.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan noted that the Indus Waters Treaty, brokered in 1960, cannot be suspended unilaterally, and any such move violates international law and the treaty’s binding clauses.
India’s decision came just days after the Pahalgam incident on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. Without any investigation, New Delhi swiftly blamed Pakistan and declared its intent to suspend the treaty. Islamabad has rejected the allegations and offered to participate in a transparent, impartial investigation.
Experts at the meeting warned that India’s action could set a dangerous precedent. “If such a critical treaty can be unilaterally voided, it could inspire other upstream states, such as China, to follow suit,” one expert warned, noting that Beijing could suspend water flow from the Brahmaputra River into India, mirroring the same logic.
Under the IWT, the three eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — are allocated to India, while the three western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — are reserved for Pakistan. Officials emphasized that the treaty contains no provisions for unilateral suspension.
Dar also cautioned that such actions could destabilize other critical bilateral agreements, including the 1972 Simla Agreement, the 1949 Karachi Ceasefire Agreement, and various Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs).
Pakistan reiterated its commitment to defending its sovereign water rights through diplomatic, legal, and international forums.
