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New Delhi: Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), with Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik issuing a strong warning during a press conference.
Malik said Islamabad would not allow any attempt to block Pakistan’s share of water and used strong language while addressing concerns over the future of the decades-old water-sharing agreement.
The dispute comes after India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of several tourists and a local resident.
Speaking about the issue, Malik accused India of attempting to control Pakistan’s water supply and claimed that Islamabad would defend what it considers its rightful share under the treaty.
He said Pakistan had already demonstrated its ability to respond to threats and would not accept any obstruction related to water resources.
His remarks were widely circulated after being reported by Pakistani media outlets.
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 with the mediation of the World Bank to regulate the distribution of river waters between India and Pakistan.
Under the agreement, India received control over the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — while Pakistan was given control over the western rivers, including the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
The treaty has remained in place through multiple conflicts and periods of political tension between the two neighbours.
India announced that it was keeping the treaty in abeyance after the deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that the agreement no longer reflects current realities.
Pakistan has challenged India’s move, maintaining that the treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally and that water rights must continue according to the agreement.
The latest statements have added further strain to already difficult India-Pakistan relations, with both sides taking firm positions on the issue.
The Indus river system remains a crucial resource for both countries, supporting agriculture, power generation and millions of livelihoods across the region. Any disruption in the treaty framework could have significant economic and diplomatic consequences.
