Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has warned India against undermining regional peace by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), saying any attempt to interfere with Pakistan’s water rights would amount to sowing the “seeds of war.”
Speaking at an international conference on the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in Islamabad, Dar said the protection of Pakistan’s water resources is a matter of national importance. The conference brought together international legal and water experts to discuss Pakistan’s rights under the treaty and examine the legal implications of India’s decision to place the agreement in abeyance.
India announced in April 2025 that it was suspending the World Bank-brokered treaty following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad rejected the allegations and maintains that the treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally under international law.
Dar reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty remains legally binding and urged India to resolve all disputes through dialogue, diplomacy, and the treaty’s established dispute resolution mechanisms. He also called on both countries to work towards lasting peace and stability in South Asia.
Addressing the conference, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik said accepting India’s position could weaken confidence in international agreements governing shared water resources. He called for a stronger global framework that imposes political, economic, and diplomatic consequences on countries that violate transboundary water treaties.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the Indus Waters Treaty as a lifeline for Pakistan’s population of more than 240 million people. He said the Indus River is essential for the country’s agriculture, economy, and livelihoods, adding that Pakistan’s leadership would respond appropriately to any attempt to disrupt the nation’s water supply.
