ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) “will never be restored,” calling it a reckless breach of international law and a dangerous precedent with severe implications for regional stability.
In a strongly worded statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said: “The statement reflects a brazen disregard for the sanctity of international agreements. The Indus Waters Treaty is not a political arrangement, but a binding international treaty with no provision for unilateral suspension.”
The condemnation follows Shah’s interview with the Times of India, in which he vowed that India would divert water flowing to Pakistan for internal use, specifically to Rajasthan, stating: “Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably.”
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, allocates control of three eastern rivers to India and three western rivers to Pakistan, guaranteeing water access to around 80% of Pakistan’s agricultural lands. India suspended its participation in the treaty after blaming Pakistan-based elements for a deadly attack that killed 26 civilians in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a charge Islamabad has repeatedly denied.
Pakistan views India’s unilateral move as a violation of international norms. “India’s illegal announcement to hold the treaty in abeyance constitutes a clear violation of international law, the treaty itself, and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations,” the FO said.
The spokesperson warned that India’s actions undermine global confidence in treaty obligations. “Weaponising water for political ends is irresponsible and contrary to established norms of state conduct,” he added, urging New Delhi to “immediately rescind its unilateral and unlawful stance.”
The FO further reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the IWT and said it will pursue all legal avenues to protect its rights. “Pakistan remains firmly committed to the treaty and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate entitlements under it.”
The remarks by Amit Shah — widely regarded as the second most powerful figure in India’s government — have dimmed hopes of any near-term negotiations on the treaty. Islamabad is reportedly considering a legal challenge through international forums, including arbitration under the provisions of the IWT.
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Tensions over water sharing have risen sharply amid worsening diplomatic ties, and Pakistani officials have previously warned that any attempt to block river flows could be construed as an “act of war.”
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