Any attempt to deny Pakistan's water rights to threaten regional peace: Dar

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday declared that Pakistan would defend its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) through all available legal and diplomatic means, warning that any attempt to deprive the country of its allocated share of water would have far-reaching consequences for regional peace and security.

Addressing the International Seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty 2026 at the Jinnah Convention Centre, Dar described water as the foundation of human dignity, food security, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability, saying the Indus River system had sustained civilizations for thousands of years and must remain a source of cooperation rather than conflict.

He said transboundary rivers should unite nations through collaboration, a principle firmly rooted in international law, and recalled that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, established a durable legal framework for sharing the waters of the Indus Basin.

Dar noted that while India received unrestricted use of the three eastern rivers, Pakistan was allocated the three western rivers, with India permitted only limited use under clearly defined treaty provisions.

He said Pakistan had undertaken extensive restructuring of its irrigation and water management systems in reliance on the permanence of the treaty, despite making significant sacrifices after losing access to the eastern rivers.

"For more than six decades, including periods of war and political tensions, Pakistan honoured the Treaty in both letter and spirit because it believed international agreements would be respected in good faith," he said.

The deputy prime minister termed India's decision to place the treaty in abeyance "illegal, unilateral and without any basis" in either the treaty or international law, reiterating that the agreement remained valid, binding and fully operational.

"No party can unilaterally suspend or terminate obligations under a treaty that contains no such provision," he said, adding that the principle reflected the fundamental rule of international law requiring treaties to be implemented in good faith.

Referring to proceedings before the Court of Arbitration constituted under the treaty, Dar said the tribunal had reaffirmed that the IWT established a permanent legal regime governing the rights and obligations of both countries over the Indus Basin and could not be suspended or terminated unilaterally.

He warned that disregarding binding international agreements whenever they became politically inconvenient would erode confidence in the international legal order and undermine peaceful relations between states.

Expressing concern over developments since April 2025, Dar alleged that Pakistan had witnessed abrupt fluctuations in the flows of the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, alongside continued efforts to expand infrastructure capable of regulating waters allocated to Pakistan.

He stressed that all disputes should be resolved strictly through the mechanisms provided under the treaty rather than through unilateral actions.

Describing water as the lifeline of more than 250 million Pakistanis, Dar said Pakistan's agriculture, energy production, food security and economic development depended on the uninterrupted flow of the western rivers.

"We sincerely advise India against sowing the seeds of war and jeopardising peace and security in the region," he said, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue, diplomacy and treaty-based mechanisms.

At the same time, Dar cautioned that Pakistan's resolve to protect its water rights should not be underestimated.

"Any attempt to deprive Pakistan of the waters rightfully allocated to it under the Indus Waters Treaty would have profound consequences for regional peace and security," he warned.

Recalling the National Security Committee's response to India's decision, Dar said the committee had unanimously declared that any diversion, interruption or reduction of Pakistan's water rights under the treaty would be treated as an act of war.

"We mean it and we will make sure that our rights are neither prejudiced nor abused," he asserted.

Highlighting Pakistan's consistent advocacy of peaceful dispute resolution, Dar said the country remained committed to dialogue and diplomacy and stood ready for comprehensive engagement with India on all outstanding issues, provided there was reciprocal willingness from the other side.

Concluding his address, he described the Indus Waters Treaty as far more than a water-sharing arrangement, calling it a vital instrument for regional peace, stability and cooperation.

"Shared waters must never be weaponised. They should remain a bridge between nations, guided by cooperation, dialogue and respect for international law for the benefit of present and future generations," he said.