BRUSSELS: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed concern over India’s ongoing reservoir expansion and water diversion projects on rivers linked to the Indus basin, warning that such developments could lead to what he described as “hydro-hegemony” and threaten regional stability.
Addressing a seminar on transboundary water resources in Brussels through a recorded video message on Thursday, Dar said Pakistan’s concerns were based not only on Indian statements but also on developments taking place across the Indus River system.
According to the deputy prime minister, India has undertaken several projects involving reservoirs, the expansion of existing water infrastructure and diversion schemes on the Indus, Chenab and Ravi rivers. He claimed that at least 17 projects could significantly alter natural river flows and increase India’s control over shared water resources.
“In total, at least 17 such projects will drastically alter the river system as a whole, giving India the tools for ‘hydro-hegemony’ that it so desires,” Dar said.
The remarks come amid continuing tensions over the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which regulates the use of six rivers shared by Pakistan and India. Pakistan maintains that the treaty remains legally binding and does not allow unilateral withdrawal.
Dar noted that the agreement had survived multiple conflicts and remained an important framework for cooperation between the two countries. He stressed that disputes should be addressed through established legal mechanisms rather than abandoning treaty obligations.
“Water must never be viewed as an instrument of coercion,” he said, warning that attempts to restrict access to water could have serious humanitarian and economic consequences.
The deputy prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue, diplomacy and international law. He argued that sustainable management of transboundary water resources required cooperation, mutual respect and adherence to international agreements.
Dar also highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change despite contributing less than one per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and called for stronger international cooperation to address growing water-related challenges.