ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday warned that India’s aggressive water management practices pose a grave threat to peace and stability in South Asia, vowing that Pakistan would not hesitate to take decisive action to protect its national interests. In a detailed briefing to Islamabad-based foreign diplomats, Dar accused India of undermining the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and violating international law. He pointed out that India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty on 25 April 2025 had serious implications for Pakistan’s economy, security, and livelihoods. “The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is not just a breach of bilateral trust; it undermines regional stability and disregards international norms, including the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties,” Dar stated. Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to defending its water rights, Dar emphasised that the IWT remains a cornerstone of regional peace. He called on the international community to intervene and ensure that India returns to the negotiating table. “The world cannot stand by as India uses water as a political tool,” Dar said, urging global support for the restoration of the treaty. Responding to statements from Indian officials, including India’s Home Minister, Dar made it clear that any attempt by India to divert water or block Pakistan’s rightful share would be considered an act of war. He also expressed concern that India’s refusal to engage in dialogue undermines international law and regional peace. He added that Pakistan had raised the issue at international forums, including the United Nations Security Council, where UN Special Rapporteurs had expressed concern over the humanitarian impact of India’s actions. Dar highlighted India’s recent release of water into the Chenab River without prior notification, calling it a violation of Article 26 of the Vienna Convention. He described this as a provocation and a clear example of using water as a weapon. He further criticised the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects as violations of the treaty, warning that they were part of India’s broader strategy to manipulate shared water resources, threatening Pakistan’s water security. The foreign minister also condemned India’s continued construction of illegal dams on shared rivers, exacerbating the crisis. “These dams increase India’s water storage capacity, but Pakistan has no oversight as a downstream neighbour,” he added. He pointed out that India’s suspension of hydrological data sharing and joint monitoring under the IWT has made it increasingly difficult for Pakistan to track water flows and prevent potential disasters. He added that the Chenab River, in particular, saw unusual fluctuations in water flow this year, with significant changes recorded in April and December. Dar warned that India’s actions could trigger a humanitarian crisis in Pakistan, particularly by jeopardising the country’s agricultural output. “India’s manipulation of shared water resources is not just an environmental issue, but one that directly threatens the livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis,” he maintained. Concluding his remarks, Dar reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to a peaceful resolution but would not hesitate to take strong action to protect its national interests. “The Indus Waters Treaty is an invaluable agreement that must be upheld for the sake of peace, stability, and the well-being of millions in South Asia,” he added. AFP adds: Dar said it had detected “abrupt variations” of water flows on a river crucial to its farmers, accusing neighbouring India of releasing water without warning in defiance of a major treaty that New Delhi suspended this year. Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar told foreign diplomats that Pakistan’s water treaty commissioner had written a letter to his Indian counterpart over “unusual, abrupt variations” observed in the flow of the Chenab river from December 7-15, similar to changes detected in April and May. “These variations in water flows are of extreme concern for Pakistan, as they point to unilateral release of water by India,” he said, according to a ministry statement. India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to request for comment. “India has released this water without any prior notifiation ... as required under the Treaty,” Dar added, saying it represented a “weaponisation of water”. “India’s manipulation of water, at a critical time of our agriculture cycle, directly threatens the lives and livelihoods, as well as food and economic security, of our citizens,” Dar said in the speech to the international diplomatic corps in Islamabad. “What we are witnessing now is material breaches by India that strike at the heart of the Indus Waters Treaty” signed in 1960, he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025