Pakistan Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has warned that India could potentially use water as a "weapon" by controlling the timing of water releases, as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours continue over the Indus Waters Treaty. Iqbal said India's decision to keep the treaty in abeyance had created a new challenge for Pakistan, particularly because of the country's dependence on river waters for agriculture. Speaking at an Asia Society event, Iqbal said Pakistan was concerned that India could withhold water when supplies were most needed for crops and release it when demand was lower.

He described the possibility as a new form of pressure facing Pakistan and argued that the issue could have significant consequences for the country's agricultural sector. Iqbal said the Indus Waters Treaty was an international agreement and criticised India's unilateral decision to place it in abeyance. He argued that the development had changed the nature of the water dispute between the two countries. According to the minister, Pakistan now faces the possibility of water flows being influenced at times when the country needs them most for agricultural activity. The remarks come amid renewed tensions between India and Pakistan over the long-standing water-sharing arrangement.

The Indus Waters Treaty governs the use of waters from the Indus river system and has historically provided a framework for managing water resources between the two countries despite periods of severe political and military tension. Iqbal also pointed to Pakistan's efforts to construct dams and other water infrastructure as a potential buffer against disruptions in water availability. He said the projects could help Pakistan manage its water resources and provide greater resilience in the face of uncertainty over future river flows. However, he stressed that Islamabad could not ignore what he described as the emerging threat associated with the treaty dispute. The Pakistani minister said Islamabad was using diplomatic channels in response to the situation.

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He indicated that Pakistan would continue raising the issue internationally rather than allowing the matter to go unnoticed. His comments suggest that Pakistan views the dispute not only as a bilateral disagreement but also as an issue with broader implications for water security and international agreements. The Indus Waters Treaty has remained one of the key mechanisms governing water relations between India and Pakistan. The agreement allocates the use of the western and eastern rivers between the two countries while establishing provisions for cooperation and dispute resolution. Despite wars and repeated diplomatic crises, the treaty has historically continued to function as an important framework for managing the shared river system. Iqbal's warning adds to the growing political sensitivity surrounding the treaty and water flows between the neighbours.

Pakistan is heavily dependent on the Indus river system for agriculture, making the availability and timing of water supplies a major national concern. India, meanwhile, has maintained its own position regarding the treaty and its decision concerning the agreement. The dispute is unfolding against a backdrop of broader tensions between India and Pakistan, both of which possess nuclear weapons. Any significant deterioration in cooperation over water resources could therefore add another complicated dimension to already strained bilateral relations. For Pakistan, the immediate concern is ensuring reliable water availability for agriculture, while the wider diplomatic challenge involves responding to India's position on the treaty through international and bilateral channels.

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