Pakistan has intensified its rhetoric over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), with both its military leadership and senior political figures warning of serious consequences if the country’s water rights are affected. The statements come as India continues to keep the 1960 treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack, reiterating that normal bilateral agreements cannot continue while cross-border terrorism persists.
During a meeting of Pakistan’s top military commanders chaired by Field Marshal Asim Munir, the armed forces pledged to take all necessary measures to safeguard what they described as Pakistan’s rightful share of water under the treaty. The military reaffirmed the country’s National Security Committee decision taken after India’s suspension of the agreement, which declared that any attempt to stop or divert Pakistan’s water would be treated as an “act of war.”
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Adding to the sharp rhetoric, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, said Islamabad would not compromise on the Indus Waters Treaty. Speaking at a public gathering, he accused India of attempting to weaponise water resources and asserted that Pakistan was prepared to fight on all fronts to protect its interests.
India, however, has remained firm on its position. The Ministry of External Affairs recently reiterated that the treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan takes credible and irreversible action against cross-border terrorism. New Delhi has consistently argued that cooperation under bilateral agreements cannot be separated from the broader security environment.
Signed in 1960 with the World Bank acting as a mediator, the Indus Waters Treaty governs the sharing of the Indus river system between the two neighbours. Under the agreement, India has control over the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas and Sutlej—while Pakistan receives the waters of the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
The suspension has wider implications beyond diplomatic relations. India is no longer required to share flood-related data with Pakistan during the monsoon season and is moving ahead with several hydroelectric projects in the Indus basin. Since nearly 80 to 90 per cent of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on the Indus river system, the treaty’s suspension has emerged as a major strategic concern for Islamabad, further intensifying tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
