Austria: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar warned India that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its treaty-allocated water share would have “serious implications” for regional peace and security, as tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty remain unresolved.
Addressing the International Water Symposium in Vienna, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to protect its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty and international law. He said shared water resources should be managed through cooperation and established legal mechanisms rather than political pressure.
Why is Pakistan warning India over the Indus Waters Treaty?
Dar said the 1960 treaty created binding obligations and a framework for predictable management of the Indus river system. He argued that the agreement contains no provision allowing either country to unilaterally place it in abeyance.
India announced in April 2025 that it was putting the treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan rejected India’s allegations of involvement and maintained that its treaty rights could not be suspended through unilateral action.
Dar said Pakistan’s water security is closely linked to food security, agriculture, energy production and economic activity, with the Indus river system supporting the livelihoods of more than 250 million people.
“Any attempt to deprive Pakistan of the waters rightfully allocated to it would have serious implications for regional peace and security,” Dar said.
What does Pakistan say about international arbitration?
Dar cited an August 31 award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, saying it reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty remains in force and that India remains bound by its obligations under the agreement.
He said Pakistan continues to participate in dispute-resolution proceedings under the treaty, including Neutral Expert proceedings administered through the PCA’s Vienna office.
Dar accused India of continuing what he described as “intransigent behaviour and illegal actions” and warned that using water as an instrument of political pressure could create a dangerous precedent for other transboundary river disputes.
Pakistan called for implementation of the treaty, resolution of disputes through its established mechanisms, and greater technical engagement, transparency and data-sharing between the two countries.
“Our preference remains clear: cooperation over coercion, dialogue over confrontation, and the rule of law over unilateralism,” Dar said.