ISLAMABAD: In response to India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has asserted that India cannot unilaterally withdraw from the agreement.
“This is not just a bilateral treaty between India and Pakistan; the World Bank is also a party to it,” he said during a press briefing.
Khawaja Asif stated that India had long been seeking a way out of the agreement, but under international law and the terms of the treaty, such a move is not permissible without mutual consent. He emphasized that a comprehensive response would be issued by the Pakistani government and that a meeting of the National Security Committee had been convened to determine the country’s next steps.
“India’s attempt to politicize water resources is a reckless move,” the minister added. “Our armed forces have always responded firmly when required, and the world has seen our resolve. We will not allow any compromise on Pakistan’s water rights.”
The Defense Minister also pointed out that Pakistan has been one of the worst victims of terrorism globally and urged the international community to maintain a fair and balanced stance in the face of rising regional tensions.
India’s announcement came following a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where a series of measures were discussed to tighten border and diplomatic relations with Pakistan. The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 with the mediation of the World Bank, allocates control over the three eastern rivers to India and the three western rivers to Pakistan.
Experts warn that the suspension of this decades-old agreement could have serious implications for regional stability and may lead to further deterioration in India-Pakistan relations.
