Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has strongly condemned India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as “water terrorism,” saying Islamabad will vigorously protect its sovereignty and vital water rights. In remarks delivered Monday at ISSI Dar warned India’s suspension could hold over 240 million Pakistanis “hostage”, warning New Delhi it must reverse course or face serious repercussions.
What Dar Said
Dar underscored India’s inability to breach international accords or force water weaponisation on Pakistan, asserting: “India wants to use water as a weapon, but Pakistan stands firm in protecting its interests.” He strongly warned India against suspending the IWT and called any such move illegal and provocative; labelling India’s actions a pretext for an attack, alluded to in Pulwama incident as possible “false-flag”, and asserting Pakistan’s ability and readiness in defense against any attack: Judetean tribune.com.pk/x/com/ and hindustantimes/h/.com
India and Pakistan Are in Shock Since 1960, when India and Pakistan signed onto a World Bank-brokered IWT to manage six major rivers between themselves, multiple crises have arisen but still the agreement remained intact until recent days when following a deadly terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir on April 22, India suspended it as an act of water warfare that Pakistan saw as “illegal”. (FT.com, April 23)
Bilateral tensions between Pakistan and India continue to escalate, while Delhi has pulled out of various bilateral pacts and downgraded diplomatic ties, according to news outlets such as The News (Pakistan) or Financial Times (USA) or even The Guardian (UK).
Domestic and Regional Messaging
Dar’s warning reverberated among other Pakistani leaders. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif invoked an International Court of Arbitration verdict affirming neither country could unilaterally alter treaty terms; further adding that India Prime Minister Narendra Modi may suffer due to this escalation. [Geo.tv, Tribune.com.pk ].
This rhetoric comes amid protests across Pakistan sparked by India’s actions – such as flooding of basins and temporarily closing airspace – prompted by India. [Sources for additional reading include] (tribune.com.pk +2], (en.wikipedia.org +2) and geo.tv].
Dialogue Remains Conditional
Dar stated Pakistan was open to dialogue despite his criticism, saying Islamabad was ready but not desperate to engage on key issues with India such as water sharing – though criticizing New Delhi for restricting talks solely to counter-terrorism issues. To that effect he stated “it takes two to tango”, calling for wider conversations that include water rights as part of any solution to problems between them. Tribune.com.pk (+1)/ Reuters (+1).
Analysis Suggests Faces of Escalation
Although Delhi’s suspension of the IWT may have been precipitated by tensions related to terrorism, analysts believe this action reveals deeper strategic considerations: using water as leverage. Pakistani officials have accused India of manipulating river flows through dams such as Baglihar and Kishanganga dams, leading to flooding alerts and endangering agriculture.
Islamabad maintains that any significant interference with river flows constitutes a violation of international law and would lead to reciprocal action from either side.
Wider Regional Implications
This dispute over water comes against a backdrop of fragile peace. A four-day military crisis in May, precipitated by terrorist violence in Kashmir and resolved through U.S. mediation ended with a ceasefire agreement being brokered between India and Pakistan.
However, the suspension of IWT deepens mistrust between India and Pakistan as non-military domains such as water resources have become the new front in Indo-Pak rivalry. Experts warn this could undermine long-standing conflict-resolution mechanisms while endangering millions reliant on riverine agriculture.
What Lies Ahead
Pakistan has yet to take specific legal steps beyond treaty arbitration, though Dar has made clear they will not permit any infringe upon their sovereignty or territorial integrity. With environmental stress levels rising rapidly and forthcoming crop seasons on the horizon, stakes are high – analysts suggest Pakistan could seek international arbitration through World Bank or file formal complaints at UN against India’s actions; with Islamabad sending clear messaging that water rights are an integral component of national security – they intend to defend them!