 |
| Pakistan's Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir |
Once again, statements have come from Pakistan regarding following the terms of the Indus Water Treaty.
After the sharp comment by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on this issue, now a statement has come from the Pakistani Army and PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
The Pakistani Army has said in its statement that it will take 'all necessary steps' to protect the water rights that Pakistan has got under the Indus Water Treaty.
Meanwhile, Pakistan People's Party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the Indus Water Treaty will be protected and a response will be given.
He said that Pakistan is "not ready to make any compromise" on the Indus Water Treaty and is even ready to fight a war if necessary.
The Indian Foreign Ministry had said on July 3 last week that "the Indus Water Treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan stops supporting cross-border terrorism."
Pakistan's Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir chaired the 276th Corps Commanders Conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday.
A statement has been issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistani Army on this conference in which issues ranging from the Indus Water Treaty to alleged India-sponsored terrorism have been discussed.
The ISPR statement said, “Taking note of India’s statements regarding the Indus Water Treaty, the Forum supported the directives of the National Security Committee dated April 24, 2025 and expressed its firm resolve that Pakistan will take all necessary steps to protect its water rights.”
Apart from the Indus Water Treaty, the Pakistani Army has made several allegations against India in its programme.
The Pakistani Army has alleged in its statement, "Indian-sponsored terrorist groups are using areas controlled by the Afghan Taliban government to carry out attacks inside Pakistan."
"Firm peace and stability in the region is conditional on preventing such elements from using Afghan soil, for which the Afghan Taliban government is responsible."
Additionally, the Pakistani military has once again addressed the Kashmir issue. In a statement, the Pakistan Army said, "The meeting reiterated its commitment to continue supporting the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination and that continued peace in the region depends on the resolution of the Kashmir issue, as enshrined in the UN Security Council resolutions."
What did Bilawal Bhutto say?
In Gilgit, PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari alleged at a public rally that "India wants to use the Indus as a weapon against Pakistan."
He said , "We want to tell India that we will protect this agreement. We will answer you, we are not ready to compromise on Indus, if we have to fight a war, we are ready to fight the war."
Along with this, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took the name of Modi government and said that "We will fail the Modi government even in the field of Indus Water Treaty."
What did Ishaq Dar say?
Ishaq Dar
Last week on June 30, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had warned that it does not want any 'conflict' or 'dispute' with India, but any attempt to block the country's water resources under the Indus Water Treaty would be considered a 'war-like action'.
Addressing an international seminar on the Indus Water Treaty in Islamabad, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that there is no basis for India to unilaterally suspend the Indus Water Treaty, nor is there any scope for it in international law.
Following Ishaq Dar's statement, the Indian Foreign Ministry said in its press conference last Friday that "India's position on the Indus Water Treaty remains the same. The Indus Water Treaty has been put on hold in response to Pakistan's continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan must credibly and firmly abandon its support for cross-border terrorism."
It is noteworthy that in April 2025, the Indian government unilaterally suspended the Indus Water Treaty as a retaliatory measure, blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack.
Pakistan had rejected this move of India and approached the International Arbitration Court.
The Court of Arbitration, located in The Hague, Netherlands, had clarified that India cannot unilaterally suspend this treaty.
But India rejected this decision and announced to continue the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.
Following the Pahalgam attack and India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan's National Security Committee had said in April last year that any attempt by India to stop or divert Pakistan's water would be considered a 'war-like action'.
What is the Indus Water Treaty?
According to the treaty, the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab were designated as western rivers, and their waters were allocated to Pakistan. The Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej were designated as eastern rivers, and their waters were allocated to India.
According to this, India can use the water of the eastern rivers without any hindrance, except for some exceptions.
At the same time, India was also given limited rights to use the water of the western rivers, such as for power generation and limited water for agriculture.
This treaty also had provisions for negotiations between the two countries regarding the agreement and inspection of the site etc.
The Indus Commission was also established under this treaty. Under this commission, commissioners from both countries were proposed to meet.
The treaty provides for negotiations between the two commissioners on any disputed issue.
It also stipulated that when one country is working on a project and the other has objections, the first country will respond. Meetings will be held between the two sides to achieve this.
If no solution is found even in the meetings, then the governments of both the countries will have to resolve it together.
Besides, a provision has also been made to take help of a neutral expert or go to the Court of Arbitration on any such disputed issue.
