Pakistan Won’t Allow India to Weaponise Water: Tarar
Minister says IWT dispute could affect global transboundary water governance
Key Developments:
- Tarar warns against using water as a strategic tool
- Pakistan highlights wider implications for water governance
- Islamabad reiterates treaty must remain legally binding
ISLAMABAD (Dawn News) — October 01, 2026: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said Pakistan will not allow India to use water as a strategic tool, warning that the dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) could have wider implications for countries sharing transboundary water resources.
Speaking at the launch of a report on the Indus Waters Treaty by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Tarar said Pakistan would continue to defend its water rights through legal and diplomatic channels.
“We cannot allow India to weaponise water because it is the basic right of the 240 million people of Pakistan,” Tarar said.
India Yet to Decide on Su-57 Purchase, Defence Secretary Questions Its 5th Generation Capabilities
India Accelerates Underground Defence Infrastructure Plan Along Strategic Siliguri Corridor
Marco Rubio's October India Visit to Focus on Expanding Defence and Strategic Cooperation
The minister said India’s decision to place the treaty in abeyance raises concerns beyond the bilateral dispute, particularly for the international framework governing shared water resources. He urged the international community to consider what he described as the “wider precedent”.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, allocates the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej to India, while the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — are allocated to Pakistan. Pakistan maintains that the treaty does not provide for unilateral suspension or termination.
Tarar reiterated that position, saying, “The IWT is legally binding upon both parties.” He added that its provisions do not allow either side to “unilaterally revoke, rescind, or alter” the agreement.
Pakistan has also cited the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling concerning the treaty. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the court reaffirmed that the IWT remains in force and binding and that India’s unilateral decision to place it in abeyance does not remove its treaty obligations.
China Rejects India's Request for Alternative Air Route Through Xinjiang
Modi-Trump Hold Telephone Conversation on Bilateral Ties
Mumbai Family Keeps 80-Year-Old Mans Body Frozen for Four Years in Hope of Future Revival
Tarar said Pakistan had presented its legal and diplomatic position to the international community and would continue engaging with other states on the matter.
He also referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, recalling that the prime minister described the Indus waters as the “lifeblood” of Pakistan and the region and warned that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its water rights would be treated as an “act of war”.
A man watches as local authorities use excavators to fill the damaged section of the motorway with rocks to prevent floodwater from entering at Jalalpur Pirwala, Pakistan. (AFP).
Tarar maintained that Pakistan’s position on the treaty remained clear and described the agreement as an instrument intended to support peace and stability in the region.
The minister’s remarks come amid continuing disagreement between Islamabad and New Delhi over the status and implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, with Pakistan maintaining that any differences should be addressed through the treaty’s established mechanisms and international law.
Pakistan Monsoon Rainfall 19.3% Below Normal
US Exit Reshapes Iraq’s Security Landscape
China Sets Out Wider Cooperation With Pakistan
Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to China Partnership
Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Incident
Taylor Swift Sets New MTV VMA Record
Netanyahu’s Two UAE Visits: Is a New Strategic Alignment Emerging?
Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more. Download our app for the latest news, updates & uncensored content!
