Daijiworld Media Network - Islamabad

Islamabad, Jun 30: Pakistan has issued another warning amid the escalating dispute with India over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), with Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik stating that Islamabad would “cut off those hands” attempting to claim Pakistan’s share of water under the decades-old agreement.

The remarks came as tensions between the two countries continued to rise following India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.

Addressing a joint press conference with Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Malik accused India of attempting to control Pakistan’s water supply and warned of consequences if Islamabad’s water rights were affected.

“There is a tap being controlled by the prime minister of a neighbouring country. He says he will not let even a drop of water flow into Pakistan,” Malik said, according to Pakistani media reports.

Issuing a strong warning, Malik said, “We will cut off those hands which lay claim to our share of water.”

His comments were reported by Pakistani broadcaster 24NewsHD and other media outlets, while clips of the statement also circulated online. However, the authenticity of the videos could not be independently verified.

Malik reiterated that Pakistan would protect its water share under the treaty and would not allow any disruption to the flows allocated to the country.

Pakistan defends Indus Waters Treaty

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan considers the Indus Waters Treaty legally binding and claimed that the agreement cannot be suspended, revoked or amended unilaterally.

“Indus Treaty is still in force as India's stance has not been accepted at any platform,” Tarar said.

He said Pakistan’s position had received international backing and claimed that India’s decision to suspend the treaty had not received global acceptance.

Tarar also said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had repeatedly described water as Pakistan’s “lifeline” and “red line”.

“Our people have a right to water through a legally enforceable treaty that was accepted by both countries, that remains implemented today,” he said.

Pakistan also announced plans to host an international seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty in Islamabad, with legal experts, water specialists and foreign delegates expected to participate.

The seminar will discuss Pakistan’s legal claims, technical aspects of the treaty and issues surrounding water rights.

Indus treaty dispute intensifies

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 under the mediation of the World Bank, governs the distribution of waters from the Indus river system between India and Pakistan.

Under the agreement, India has control over the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — while Pakistan receives the majority share of the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

The treaty continued despite wars and prolonged tensions between the two countries but came under fresh strain after India placed it in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

India accused Pakistan-backed terrorists of carrying out the attack and said the treaty would remain suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” stopped supporting cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan rejected the allegations and has repeatedly opposed India’s move, warning against any changes to cross-border water flows.

Earlier, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had also warned that Islamabad could take military action if its water security was threatened.

“The moment we feel that our national security, and water is part of our national security, is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely,” Asif said.

India calls treaty outdated

India has defended its decision, stating that the treaty does not reflect current realities.

Speaking at the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, India’s First Secretary to the UN, Anupama Singh, said it was unreasonable for a country accused of supporting terrorism to demand continued cooperation under the agreement.

“Our position on the Indus Water Treaty is well known. It defies logic that a state which exports terror as an instrument of policy continues to demand the privileges of cooperation predicated on goodwill and friendship,” she said.

Calling the 1960 agreement outdated, Singh said the treaty cannot be treated as a permanent entitlement detached from present circumstances and changes over the past six decades.

India also urged Pakistan to address its internal challenges rather than raise bilateral issues at international forums.

New Delhi has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India” and has accused Pakistan of using international platforms to divert attention from terrorism and domestic issues.