Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged India to “live as good neighbors” and resolve all issues through dialogue and diplomacy, saying “it takes two to tango.”
Addressing an international seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in Islamabad on Tuesday, DPM Dar warned India against violating the IWT, saying the cost of sabotaging an international agreement on rivers can be very high.
He said the consequences of violating international law and agreements are not limited to just two countries.
“Such actions set a dangerous precedent in international relations,” Dar said, adding that violating agreements spoils the reputation of states.
Addressing the seminar, Dar said India had suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, following the killing of 26 people in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir in April 2025. New Delhi accused Islamabad of masterminding the deadly militant attack, an allegation Pakistan denied.
He said long-term peace was only possible through mutual respect and state sovereignty. “If Pakistan is deprived of its water rights, it will have serious consequences,” DPM Dar warned.
Recalling past attempts to resolve issues with India through dialogue, the DPM said, “We are in all sincerity ready to discuss all issues, but we call for a composite dialogue, but it takes two to tango.” »
Dar lamented that India had become so “narrow-minded that even sports are now subject to this Hindutva philosophy”.
“See the recent elections in Bihar; what happened there [that] 40 million people were disenfranchised and disenfranchised, which is their internal matter, but I think the global community needs to take note,” he added.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar warned that Pakistani leaders were ready to give an effective response if any attempt was made to stop the country’s water, reaffirming that Islamabad would safeguard the sanctity of the Indus Waters Treaty under all circumstances.
Addressing the seminar on CIES, Tarar said Pakistan remained committed to ensuring that the treaty remained intact, stressing that using water as a weapon was tantamount to undermining regional and global peace and stability.
The minister said that the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 occupies a unique place in international relations and remains one of the most enduring water sharing agreements in the world.
“We are not just discussing a treaty, but the lifeline of 240 million people,” Tarar said, adding that water is not just a natural resource for Pakistan but a matter of national survival.
He said Pakistan has always maintained that its people have a legitimate and complete right over the waters of the Indus River, warning that any attempt to stop or divert Pakistan’s waters would receive an effective response from the country’s leadership.
He added that Pakistan’s history is intrinsically linked to the Indus River and agriculture, the backbone of the national economy, depends on its waters.
The minister said Pakistan has always demonstrated its commitment to peaceful relations, constructive dialogue and sincere implementation of international agreements. He pointed out that the Indus Waters Treaty was established over six decades ago by mutual consent between two countries.
He stressed that any changes to the treaty could only be made by mutual agreement, adding that the unilateral suspension of the treaty had embarrassed India at international forums.
India diverts Chenab water
Pakistan’s Indus Waters Treaty Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah said India has not been complying with the treaty since August 2023, adding that a letter was sent to India a day earlier requesting data sharing under the agreement.
Addressing a seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty, the commissioner said India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty was completely illegal and a blatant violation of the agreement. He said India was diverting water from the Chenab River, a move that would affect the flow of 1.9 million gallons of water.
He said that under the Indus Waters Treaty, India cannot divert the waters of the Chenab to the Beas River and the construction of the Chenab-Beas link by India was completely illegal. He added that under the treaty, India was obliged to allow Pakistan to inspect the link.
“India’s attempt to block Pakistan’s water supply violates international law”
A Russian expert, Dr Roxolana Zigon, said India’s statement that denying water to Pakistan would violate international law in the coming years would violate international law, adding that the treaty forms the basis for equitable water sharing in the region and is considered globally as one of the most successful water sharing agreements.
She said the treaty had guaranteed water cooperation between Pakistan and India for over six decades despite tensions between the two countries, adding that it did not contain any provision for unilateral withdrawal.
The expert said that more than 90 percent of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on river water, while 21 major hydropower projects are linked to the Indus river system. She added that almost the entire population of Pakistan is connected to the Indus Basin in one way or the other.
Dr Zigon said India’s construction of dams in upstream areas could increase instability in the region, accusing New Delhi of trying to use water as a weapon and warning that its unilateral policies were eroding international trust.
The Russian expert described the Permanent Indus Commission as an important and effective mechanism for resolving disputes and stressed that preserving the Indus Waters Treaty was essential for peace and stability in South Asia.
It is worth noting here that based on baseless allegations, India launched war against Pakistan in May 2025, which was the most violent fight between the two neighboring countries in decades, before a ceasefire was reached and brokered by the United States.
Pakistan, during the 87 hours of conflict, shot down eight Indian fighter jets, including the French-made Rafale, and dozens of drones.
Speaking at the seminar, Lt Gen (retd) Amir Riaz, former President of the National Defense University, said the Indus river system supplies water to the world’s largest irrigation network.
The river system serves Pakistan’s agricultural, economic and energy needs.
“Pakistan’s life, development and prosperity are linked to this system,” the retired general said, warning that attempts to seize the country’s share of water pose a serious threat to its national security.
