Ishaq Dar speaking at an OIC high-level event on peace and tolerance on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Friday accused India of deliberately manipulating river flows in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that New Delhi’s actions threaten regional stability, international law and the livelihoods of millions of people downstream.
Addressing the diplomatic corps in Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said India’s decision earlier this year to keep the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty on hold amounted to a “serious contravention” of international law, including the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
He said Pakistan was witnessing “substantial violations” of the treaty, citing unusual and abrupt variations in the flow of the Chenab River on two occasions this year: from April 30 to May 21, and again between December 7 and 15.
“These sudden changes in river flows point to unilateral water releases by India, carried out without prior notification or data sharing, as explicitly required by the treaty,” he said, adding that such actions were of “extreme concern” to Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister said Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner had formally sought clarification from his Indian counterpart under the treaty provisions, warning that India’s conduct amounted to “weaponizing water”.
He said the timing of the water tampering was particularly alarming as it coincided with a critical phase of Pakistan’s agricultural cycle, directly threatening food security, livelihoods and the broader economy.
The minister accused India of systematically undermining the treaty by building hydroelectric projects such as Kishanganga and Ratle, which he said violated the technical specifications of the treaty, as well as by building dams aimed at creating fait accomplis.
“With increasing storage capacity, India’s ability to manipulate water flows is growing, endangering the security, economy and livelihoods of Pakistan’s 240 million people,” he said.
He also said India had stopped sharing hydrological data and joint monitoring mechanisms set out in the treaty, exposing Pakistan to increased risks of floods and droughts, and warned that continued violations could trigger a humanitarian crisis.
Referring to the recent rulings of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in June and August 2025, the minister said the court had reaffirmed the continued validity of the Indus Waters Treaty and its binding dispute resolution mechanisms.
“These decisions leave no ambiguity. The treaty is alive and its provisions remain binding,” he said, criticizing India for refusing to participate in arbitrations and neutral expert proceedings.
The minister also cited a recent communication from UN special rapporteurs expressing concern that India’s actions risk violating human rights, including the rights to water, food, livelihoods and a healthy environment.
He said Pakistan had raised the issue repeatedly in the UN Security Council and urged the international community to pressure India to restore the treaty, refrain from unilateral actions and respect international law.
“Pakistan remains committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes,” he said, adding, “but will not compromise the existential rights of its people over water. Water is life and cannot be used as a weapon.”
“India continues to build illegal dams in complete disregard of Treaty obligations, to impose a ‘fait accompli’. With the construction of dams, India’s capacity to store and handle water is also increasing, endangering the security, economy and livelihood of Pakistan’s 240 million people.”
He said allowing India to violate Treaty obligations with impunity would set a dangerous precedent as the country was subverting the Treaty’s own dispute resolution mechanism by refusing to participate in the Court of Arbitration and Neutral Expert Procedures.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the IWT was a binding legal instrument and any unilateral violation would threaten the sanctity of international treaties and pose serious threats to regional peace and security, principles of good neighborliness and norms governing interstate relations.
He said the Permanent Court of Arbitration, in its recent decisions in June and August 2025, reaffirmed the continued validity of the IWT and its binding dispute resolution mechanisms.
“These judgments leave no ambiguity. The Indus Waters Treaty is alive and its provisions remain binding on the parties. The international community must not accept India’s impunity.”
Dar reiterated that Pakistan’s National Security Committee had stated that any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water to Pakistan under the Treaty would be considered an “act of war”.
He urged the international community to take note of India’s continued disregard for a bilateral treaty and advise India to act responsibly in accordance with international law and established norms.
He said that the belligerent statements coming from the Indian leadership clearly demonstrated India’s intentions and designs to weaponize water with the objective of inflicting harm on Pakistan, which was also repeatedly conveyed to the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly to play their due role.
“Let me assure you that Pakistan remains committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and issues with India, but will not compromise the existential water rights of its people,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister urged the international community, especially members of the UN Security Council, to take immediate steps to address this situation and call on India to immediately restore the Treaty, stop the use of water as a weapon, respect international law and treaty obligations, and refrain from undermining the peace and stability of South Asia.
