Pakistan Calls Indus Treaty Suspension by India an Act of “Water Warfare”
Pakistan has called India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack, calling it an act of “water warfare” and vowing a legal and diplomatic response.
In the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty—prompting outrage from Pakistan. The 1960 treaty, brokered by the World Bank, governs the use of the Indus River system shared between the two countries. Islamabad has termed India’s move as “illegal” and “reckless,” asserting that New Delhi cannot unilaterally exit the agreement.
“India’s reckless suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is an act of water warfare; a cowardly, illegal move. Every drop is ours by right, and we will defend it with full force—legally, politically, and globally,” Pakistan’s Energy Minister Awais Leghari said on X (formerly Twitter).
Pakistan’s top security body, the National Security Committee (NSC), convened an emergency meeting to evaluate India’s measures, which Islamabad sees as hostile acts. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan’s stance, dismissing New Delhi’s allegations linking Islamabad to the Pahalgam massacre as “baseless.”
“If India has any evidence, it should present it,” Dar said, further calling India’s move a “political ploy” aimed at deflecting internal criticism.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned India of a “strong and effective response,” insisting the treaty is an international agreement involving the World Bank, and cannot be abrogated unilaterally.
Signed in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty allocates 80% of the Indus system’s water flow to Pakistan, with India retaining limited rights as the upper riparian state. Over the decades, it has been upheld even during times of war.
India’s suspension of the treaty follows a broader series of diplomatic downgrades including a reduction in high commission staff, visa restrictions under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, and a strong condemnation of Pakistan for its alleged links to terrorism in the Kashmir Valley.
While India has not issued a detailed official comment on the mechanics of the suspension, the move marks a significant escalation in its strategy following the Pahalgam attack. Analysts warn that any disruption in water flow from India could severely affect Pakistan’s agriculture-dependent economy.
