Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated further after Pakistan warned that any attempt to restrict the flow of Indus River waters could be treated as an “act of war.” The statement came during a weekly briefing by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, where officials reacted strongly to recent remarks made by India’s Water Resources Minister CR Patil regarding the Indus Waters Treaty.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that any move to block or significantly alter the flow of river waters into Pakistan would have “serious consequences” and could fall under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which pertains to the right of self-defence. The remarks underline the sensitivity of water-sharing arrangements between the two neighbouring countries, which have long been governed by the Indus Waters Treaty.

The controversy was triggered after CR Patil stated in an interview that India was working on ensuring “not a single drop” of Indus water flows to Pakistan in the coming years. He said the decision aligned with directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that efforts were underway to implement the plan in a time-bound manner.

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Patil further claimed that India’s Home Minister Amit Shah was also monitoring developments related to the issue, indicating high-level attention to the matter. His comments were widely reported in Indian media and quickly drew diplomatic attention across the border, prompting Pakistan’s formal response.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of river waters between India and Pakistan. Despite multiple wars and periods of heightened tension, the agreement has largely remained in force, making it one of the most durable water-sharing treaties in the world.

With both sides hardening their positions, the latest exchange has added a new dimension to already strained bilateral relations. Analysts note that any disruption to the treaty’s framework could have significant implications for regional stability, agriculture, and water security in Pakistan, which heavily depends on Indus basin rivers.

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