Ishaq Dar Warns India On Indus Water Projects
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has warned that India’s reservoir expansion and water diversion projects on rivers covered by the Indus Waters Treaty could affect regional water security and stability. He made the remarks while addressing a conference on transboundary water resources in Brussels through a recorded video message.
Indus Waters Treaty Dispute
Dar said Pakistan’s concerns were based not only on Indian statements but also on infrastructure activity on the Indus river system. He alleged that India had pursued reservoirs, expansion of existing structures and diversion schemes on the Indus, Chenab and Ravi rivers.
According to Dar, at least 17 such projects could significantly alter river flows and give India greater control over shared water resources. He warned that water should not be used as an instrument of coercion between states.
India Reservoir Expansion Concerns
The remarks come amid renewed tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty, the 1960 agreement that governs the sharing of six rivers between India and Pakistan. Pakistan maintains that the treaty remains legally binding and cannot be suspended unilaterally.
India had earlier said it was putting the treaty in abeyance after accusing Pakistan of links to a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, an allegation Islamabad has denied. The development has added a new layer of strain to already tense relations between the two countries.
Pakistan Calls For Water Diplomacy
Dar said Pakistan remained committed to resolving water disputes through dialogue, diplomacy and international legal mechanisms. He argued that responsible states should operate within established legal frameworks rather than abandon treaty obligations.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, saying the country contributes less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions but remains among the nations most exposed to climate-related risks.
