Pakistan warns India any move to block water could amount to an act of war

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday warned India against any attempt to stop water flowing to the country, with the Foreign Office saying such a move would be treated with the utmost seriousness and could amount to an act of war.

The warning came a day after Indian Water Minister CR Patil said New Delhi was working to ensure that not a single drop of water reaches Pakistan. Responding at the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said any effort to block Pakistan’s water would be a highly irresponsible step that runs contrary to international obligations and the Indus Waters Treaty.

Andrabi said Pakistan would act to protect its economy, key national interests and the lives of its 250 million people. He also urged India to act responsibly, fulfil its international commitments and avoid statements or actions that could further raise tensions in the region.

Pakistan will take all necessary measures to safeguard its economy and its vital national interests and the lives of its 250 million people,

The Indus Waters Treaty regulates the use of six rivers whose headwaters are in India and whose waters flow to Pakistan through the Indus basin. According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan relies on these waters as a vital resource. India said in May 2025 that it had suspended its participation in the treaty after accusing Pakistan of backing a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, an allegation Islamabad rejected.

Foreign Office rejects Indian remarks on Kashmir

At the same briefing, Andrabi also rejected recent Indian statements on Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said the remarks were rejected in their entirety and drew a distinction between the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains an illegally annexed and internationally recognised disputed territory, where people have faced systemic abuses under what he described as draconian laws and have been denied fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination. By contrast, he said, issues in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are being handled within a democratic and constitutional framework.

Pakistan comments on SIPRI findings

Commenting on a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Andrabi said its findings were not surprising and supported Pakistan’s long-standing concerns regarding India’s vertical proliferation and strategic capabilities, including canisterisation, sea-based systems and longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles.

He said Pakistan was not interested in entering an arms race or matching warheads, arms and ammunition numerically, but remained aware of the changing security environment. He added that Pakistan would continue taking steps it considers necessary to maintain strategic stability and deter any possible Indian aggression.

We are not interested in an arms race or matching warheads, arms and ammunition by number. However, we remain mindful of the evolving security environment.

We will continue to take measures essential for preserving strategic stability and deterring any possible Indian aggression,