Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday accused India of systematically undermining the Indus Waters Treaty, citing unnotified releases of water from the Chenab River.
Read More: Playing with fire: the Indus waters treaty and the looming catastrophe
Addressing the diplomatic corps in Islamabad, he said such actions threaten peace and stability in South Asia and directly endanger Pakistan’s agricultural cycle, livelihoods, and food security.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office had earlier sought clarification from India over sudden variations in the river flow observed from April 30 to May 21 and December 7 to 15.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, held an urgent briefing for the Diplomatic Corps on India’s persistent material breaches of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
India’s repeated manipulation of water flows, construction of illegal… pic.twitter.com/JGD9s3CCfi
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 19, 2025
Dar highlighted India’s construction of hydropower projects, such as Kishenganga and Ratle, which he claimed violate treaty specifications.
He warned that India’s growing capacity to store and manipulate water could trigger floods, droughts, and a potential humanitarian crisis in Pakistan. He noted that India has stopped sharing hydrological data and joint oversight information, further exposing Pakistan to risk.
The minister also criticized India for subverting the treaty’s dispute resolution mechanism by refusing to participate in Permanent Court of Arbitration and neutral expert proceedings. “The Indus Waters Treaty is a binding legal instrument that has ensured peace and stability in South Asia,” Dar said.
He cited UN communications and reports highlighting India’s actions as threats to human rights, including the rights to water, livelihood, and a sustainable environment.
Dar urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to intervene and call on India to restore full treaty compliance. While reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution, he warned that the country would not compromise on its water rights.
Read More: India reignites water war by manipulating Chenab flows
“Water is life, and it cannot be weaponised,” he concluded, stressing that India’s continued disregard for the treaty endangers millions of people in Pakistan and threatens regional stability.