PM Warns India Against Violating Indus Waters Treaty, Vows to Safeguard Pakistan’s Water Rights
PM Warns India Against Violating Indus Waters Treaty, Vows to Safeguard Pakistan’s Water Rights
In a firm declaration aimed at preserving Pakistan’s sovereign water rights, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has warned India against taking any steps that violate the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) — the landmark water-sharing agreement between the two nations brokered by the World Bank in 1960. The prime minister’s comments came after escalating tensions surrounding the construction and operational activities of Indian hydroelectric projects on rivers flowing into Pakistan, particularly the Kishanganga Hydropower Project.
Addressing the media in Islamabad, PM Sharif emphasized that Pakistan views the Indus Waters Treaty as an essential pillar of regional peace and stability. “Any attempt to undermine this treaty will be seen as a direct threat to Pakistan’s water security, and we will respond with full resolve using diplomatic, legal, and strategic channels,” he stated.
The Kishanganga project, constructed on a tributary of the Jhelum River (the Neelum River in Pakistan), has been a point of contention between Islamabad and New Delhi for years. Pakistan argues that India’s diversions from the Neelum River significantly reduce water flow to downstream areas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, impacting agriculture, ecosystems, and livelihoods.
Earlier this year, the Court of Arbitration in The Hague acknowledged Pakistan’s concerns and ruled partially in its favor, recognizing the country’s rights over the Neelum River waters. While India continues to assert that its activities fall within the parameters of the treaty, Pakistan maintains that the cumulative impact of Indian dams and diversions amounts to a clear violation.
Sharif’s warning aligns with statements made by senior Pakistani officials, including Field Marshal Asim Munir, who recently referred to India’s use of water as a “hydrological weapon,” terming it a form of “hydro-terrorism.” The Pakistani leadership is now calling on international organizations, including the World Bank and the United Nations, to take urgent notice of India’s continued actions in the Indus basin.
The Prime Minister also called upon the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify diplomatic outreach, urging them to inform the global community about the environmental, humanitarian, and legal implications of India’s hydropower projects.
“Pakistan will not tolerate any breach of the Indus Waters Treaty. We are a peaceful nation but committed to protecting the rights of our people. This treaty is not just about water; it’s about justice, sustainability, and regional trust,” said Sharif.
The Indus Waters Treaty has survived three wars between the neighboring countries and is often held up as a rare example of functional diplomacy. However, recent Indian infrastructural moves on rivers allocated to Pakistan — including the Ratle and Pakal Dul projects on the Chenab River — have raised alarms within Pakistani strategic circles.
In response, civil society activists, water resource experts, and legal professionals in Pakistan have also rallied behind the government’s position. There are calls for greater investment in Pakistan’s own water infrastructure and the fast-tracking of reservoir and dam projects to counterbalance upstream diversions.
The federal government has also announced plans to initiate a public awareness campaign, highlighting the strategic importance of river flows and their direct connection to food security, electricity generation, and environmental balance.
As regional tensions simmer and climate stress intensifies, the Indus Basin’s waters are becoming not just a matter of bilateral contention, but of global environmental concern.
