Rawalpindi, Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to protecting its water rights, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its lawful share under the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an act of war.
In a statement, he strongly condemned India’s unilateral actions regarding the treaty and called them a clear violation of international law, treaty obligations and the principles governing shared international watercourses.
Barrister Danyal said the Indus Waters Treaty is a legally binding international agreement that cannot be suspended or made ineffective through unilateral action. He said any attempt to undermine the treaty would threaten the water security of more than 240 million Pakistanis and damage the credibility of the international treaty system.
“The Indus Waters Treaty is not a favour granted by any nation, it is a legally secured right.” He said any attempt to block, divert or weaponize Pakistan’s share of water would amount to a grave threat to national security and would be treated as an act of war.
He said Pakistan reserves the right to pursue all diplomatic, political and legal remedies available under international law. He added that while Pakistan remains committed to peace and dialogue in accordance with the UN Charter, its desire for peace should never be mistaken for weakness.
Referring to the 276th Corps Commanders’ Conference chaired by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at GHQ, he said the forum endorsed the decisions of the National Security Committee and reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ resolve to protect Pakistan’s water rights at all costs.
Barrister Danyal said the government, parliament, armed forces and people stand united under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in defending the country’s water security. He also welcomed China’s principled position in support of international law and peaceful dispute resolution.
He called on the United Nations, friendly countries and all stakeholders to help preserve the integrity of the treaty, saying lasting peace in South Asia can only be achieved through respect for international law, faithful implementation of treaty obligations and meaningful dialogue.
