Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif Warns India Over Water
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Islamabad could consider war if it believes India’s actions threaten Pakistan’s water security, escalating rhetoric around the suspended Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan Warns India Over Water Security
Khawaja Asif said water security is part of Pakistan’s national security and claimed that any move affecting the country’s strategic water interests could trigger a serious response.
His remarks came as Pakistan faces growing concern over water shortages and the future of river flows governed by the Indus Waters Treaty. Asif said Pakistan was closely monitoring India’s actions and would respond if it believed its interests were being compromised.
Indus Waters Treaty Tensions Rise
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, has long governed the sharing of waters from the Indus river system between India and Pakistan. India placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack, saying normal engagement could not continue while cross-border terrorism remained unresolved.
Pakistan has objected to India’s position and has repeatedly said any attempt to block or divert water would be treated as a serious escalation. India has maintained that its decision is linked to security concerns.
India Pakistan Water Dispute Deepens
The latest warning adds another layer to already tense India-Pakistan relations. Water has become a major diplomatic and security issue between the two countries, especially as Pakistan deals with domestic water stress.
The exchange also shows how the Indus Waters Treaty has moved beyond technical river-sharing discussions and entered the wider strategic debate between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
