Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued another warning to India about the Indus Waters Treaty. Sharif declared, “The enemy cannot usurp even a single drop of water belonging to Pakistan.” His comments came just days after Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir made similar hardline comments, including promises to destroy any dams India builds in contravention of the treaty.
Background: Treaty Suspension Causes War of Words
The escalation in rhetoric follows India’s decision in April 2025 to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. India suspended treaty provisions after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 men and was blamed by New Delhi as cross-border terrorism. The suspension of treaty provisions regarding water-sharing was first authorized in 1960.
Pakistan Calls Decision ‘Deeply Regrettable’
Islamabad has denounced India’s decision as “deeply regrettable,” indicating that India has made the humanitarian agreement, which supports millions of lives in Pakistan, political. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that any attempt to obstruct or divert Pakistan’s share of water would be considered hostile and a “lesson you would never forget.”
International Arbitration and the Jurisdiction Dispute
The Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a recent ruling expounding upon treaty clauses stating that India could not unilaterally put the treaty in suspension. India had a positive reaction to the ruling, while Pakistan rejected the court’s jurisdiction, which only furthered tensions between the two countries.
Restoration Calls Amid Hostile Rhetoric
Despite the hostile public stance on both sides, Pakistan has called for India to restore normal operations of the Indus Waters Treaty. Islamabad officials argue that water should not be a political issue and that it is best to preserve the water supplies we share for the mutual benefit of both countries’ populations.
Tensions Over Water Resources Reach New High
With Pakistan’s political and military leaders now united in warnings, the Indus Waters Treaty has risen to a top-tier issue in already tenuous bilateral dealings. Subsequent statements indicate that water security may become a flashpoint in South Asia geopolitics, joining trade, borders, and diplomatic issues
