Pakistan accuses India of violating Indus Waters Treaty, warns of serious consequences

PTC Web Desk:  Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday accused India of repeatedly attempting to weaken the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that any disruption of water flow could be treated as an “act of war.”

Addressing the media, Dar said Pakistan had sought clarification from India after noticing variations in the flow of Chenab River. He claimed these actions amounted to “material breaches” that strike at the core of the decades-old water-sharing agreement.

Dar referred to India’s decision in April this year to place the Indus Waters Treaty in “abeyance,” calling it a unilateral move that threatens regional stability and undermines international law. “What we are witnessing now are serious violations with escalating consequences,” he said.

The foreign minister alleged that India was manipulating Indus basin waters at a critical point in Pakistan’s agricultural cycle, putting millions of livelihoods at risk. He warned that such actions directly threaten food security and the lives of people dependent on the river system.

Dar further accused India of halting the sharing of hydrological data, technical information  and joint oversight mechanisms required under the treaty. According to him, this lack of transparency has exposed Pakistan to the risks of floods during high flows and droughts during low water periods.

“Any suspension or deliberate disruption of water flow will be viewed as an act of war,” Dar cautioned, underlining the seriousness with which Pakistan views the issue.

He also confirmed that Pakistan’s Indus Waters Commissioner has formally written to his Indian counterpart seeking explanations over the recent changes in river flows, particularly in the Chenab.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the sharing and use of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. Despite multiple conflicts and tensions between the two countries, the treaty has largely remained intact for over six decades.

However, relations between the two neighbours further deteriorated after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. A day after the incident, India announced several punitive measures against Pakistan, including placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.

Pakistan has repeatedly urged India to honour its international commitments and resolve disputes through dialogue and established treaty mechanisms.