Siddhartha Dinesh Mishra: Pakistan Warns India Over Indus Waters Dispute, Calls Water Issue a Matter of National Security
Islamabad :
Tensions between India and Pakistan have once again increased over the Indus Waters Treaty, with Pakistan’s political leadership and military officials issuing strong statements regarding water sharing between the two countries.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned that Pakistan is ready to fight “on all fronts” if the country’s water rights are affected. His remarks came amid the ongoing dispute over India’s decision to keep the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 with the support of the World Bank, has regulated the sharing of river waters between India and Pakistan for decades. Under the agreement, India controls the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — while Pakistan receives water from the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
Pakistan Army Issues Strong Statement
Pakistan’s military leadership has also spoken about protecting what it described as the country’s “rightful share” of water. During a meeting of senior army commanders led by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Pakistan Army said it was committed to taking necessary measures to ensure water availability according to government directives.
The military also referred to previous decisions taken by Pakistan’s National Security Committee, which had stated that any attempt to stop or divert water would be treated as an “act of war.”
Bilawal Bhutto’s Warning
In a public statement, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accused India of trying to use water as a strategic tool and said Pakistan would not compromise on its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.
“There will be no compromise on the Indus Water Treaty. If we have to fight a war with India, we will fight,” he said.
The exact timing and location of the rally where the remarks were made could not be independently verified.
India’s Position on the Treaty
India has maintained that the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended because of Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism. The Indian government has stated that agreements cannot continue normally without addressing security concerns.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said that Pakistan must take credible and irreversible steps against terrorism before normal relations can resume.
Why Indus Waters Matter to Pakistan
The Indus River system is extremely important for Pakistan’s economy, particularly its agriculture sector. A large portion of Pakistan’s farming depends on water from these rivers, making the issue a major national concern.
Pakistan relies heavily on reservoirs such as Tarbela and Mangla for water storage, but limited storage capacity has remained a challenge for the country.
Meanwhile, India has been moving forward with several hydroelectric projects in the Indus basin, including projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Water Dispute Becomes a Strategic Issue
What was once considered a technical water-sharing agreement has now become a major geopolitical issue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Pakistan has raised the matter internationally through diplomatic channels, while India continues to link the treaty issue with concerns over cross-border terrorism.
The dispute over Indus waters has added another layer of tension to already strained India-Pakistan relations.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
