ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has issued a strong warning to India, saying that any attempt to suspend or block the Indus Water Treaty will be seen as an act of war and will be met with a forceful response, reported by The Nation Newsweb.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad on Thursday with Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Attorney General Mansoor Awan, Dar said that India cannot unilaterally stop or delay the treaty, which was signed in 1960 with the help of the World Bank.
Dar was responding to recent Indian claims and the so-called “Pahalgam False Flag Operation”, which Pakistan believes is a setup to justify future aggressive actions. He said that Pakistan has solid intelligence reports showing that foreign nationals carrying heavy equipment are present in Srinagar, and blamed Indian intelligence for supporting these actions in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.
He added that Pakistani forces are on high alert and fully ready to respond to any provocation. Dar also stressed that Pakistan wants peace but will not hesitate to defend itself.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, using groups like the TTP and BLA as proxies. He also warned that if Pakistan is attacked, India will face serious consequences.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan has already responded strongly to India’s threats and will continue to do so. He claimed India is using terrorism for its own political purposes.
Attorney General Mansoor Awan confirmed that under international law, India cannot suspend the Indus Water Treaty on its own, and said Pakistan is ready to use all legal options to protect its rights.
Deputy PM Dar concluded by saying that the whole political leadership and parliament will be involved in making any future decisions.
The situation remains tense as both countries continue exchanging sharp statements over water rights and security issues.
