Pakistan has criticized India for its continued violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, expressing serious concern on Thursday over fluctuations in the flow of the Chenab River, announcing that it had written to India seeking an explanation.
At a weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi spoke of what he called an “abrupt variation” in the river’s flow, an issue that has attracted media attention in recent days.
It was reported on December 8 that India had released a wave of water into the Chenab River. According to reports, the flow of the Chenab River increased to 58,300 cusecs after India released water from its dams.
“Pakistan views these variations with extreme concern and seriousness,” Andrabi said. “They are referring to the unilateral release of water into the Chenab River by India, without any prior notification.”
Andrabi said Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner had contacted his Indian counterpart to seek clarification under the procedures outlined in the Indus Water Treaty.
“Any manipulation of river flow by India, especially at a critical time in our agricultural cycle, directly threatens the lives and livelihoods as well as the food and economic security of our citizens,” Mr Andrabi said.
He urged India to respond to questions posed by Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner, avoid any unilateral changes in the river’s flow and honor its commitments under the treaty.
The Indus Waters Treaty, he said, is a “binding international agreement” that has served “as an instrument of peace, security and stability in the region.”
Violations of the treaty, Andrabi said, threaten “the sanctity of international treaties and respect for international law” and pose serious risks to “regional peace, the principles of good neighborliness and the norms governing interstate relations.”
Read: Chenab River soars as India releases water from dam, flow reaches 58,300 cusecs
“The international community must take note of India’s continued disregard for a bilateral treaty and advise India to act responsibly and in accordance with international law and established norms as well as its own obligations,” he said.
“Pakistan remains committed to peacefully resolving differences and issues with India, but will not compromise on the existential water rights of the people of our country,” Andrabi added.
In April, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty after an attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of occupied Kashmir that killed 26 people – an incident that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad without providing evidence. Pakistan has called any attempt to deny its share of water under the treaty an “act of war”, noting that the agreement contained no provision for unilateral suspension.
During the briefing, the foreign ministry spokesperson also discussed an incident this week in which Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar removed the hijab of a female doctor, drawing widespread criticism.
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Andrabi noted that the episode was followed by “public mockery” by an Uttar Pradesh minister, who defended Kumar before retracting his statement.
“The forced removal of a Muslim woman’s hijab by a senior political leader and the subsequent public ridicule of this act is deeply disturbing and deserves strong condemnation,” he said. “This action risks normalizing the humiliation of Muslim women in India. This conduct also demonstrates a lack of public respect for India’s religious minorities, particularly its Muslim citizens,” Andrabi added.
“We urge all responsible stakeholders and the Government of India to recognize the seriousness of this incident and reaffirm their commitment to the protection of minority rights, respect for religious freedom and preservation of human dignity,” he said.
Separately, the Foreign Ministry addressed the role of diplomats in legal proceedings, stressing that it is not appropriate for ambassadors to attend trials. “Even though diplomats enjoy certain immunities, they should not be involved in ongoing legal cases,” the spokesperson said.
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When asked which ambassadors are not allowed to appear in court, the spokesperson clarified that no ambassador has the right to participate in any case without prior approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The presence of diplomats in court is strictly subject to official authorization.”
Andrabi was referring to when Norwegian Ambassador Per Albert Ilsaas attended the Supreme Court hearing of husband-and-wife lawyer duo Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, causing a stir on social media.
The Foreign Ministry had summoned the Norwegian envoy and urged him to “adhere to established norms of diplomatic engagement” after his “unwarranted” presence.
The spokesperson also said he had no information regarding reports of a planned visit by the army chief to the United States, referring to a report published by Reuters that Field Marshal Asim Munir was expected to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss the peace force in Gaza.
