Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned India that any attempt to stop, restrict or divert Pakistan’s share of the Indus River waters would be treated as an “act of war.”
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the prime minister said water should not be used as a weapon and that rivers should bring countries together rather than become a source of conflict. He stressed that Pakistan’s access to the Indus River system is vital to the country.
Shehbaz Sharif also criticised India’s decision to pause the Indus Waters Treaty, maintaining that the move has no legal basis. Pakistan’s position remains that the treaty is still valid, binding and applicable to both countries.
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed between Pakistan and India in 1960 and established a framework for sharing the waters of the Indus river system. The agreement has remained an important issue in relations between the two neighbouring countries, including during periods of heightened political and military tensions.
The prime minister’s latest remarks come as disagreements between Pakistan and India over water resources continue. Islamabad has repeatedly raised concerns about any measures that could affect the flow or availability of water allocated to Pakistan under the treaty.
The warning at the UN General Assembly highlights the growing importance of water security in Pakistan-India relations. Any changes to the management or flow of the Indus River system could have significant implications for agriculture, energy production and water availability in Pakistan.
The issue is expected to remain a key point of discussion as tensions between the two countries continue.
