Pakistan slams India’s rejection of Indus treaty as violation of international law

Pakistan has strongly criticized Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent declaration that India will never reinstate the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling the move a “flagrant violation of international law” and a threat to regional stability.

In a statement released Friday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) denounced Shah’s remarks as a “brazen disregard” for the sanctity of internationally binding agreements. The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, governs the distribution of water from the Indus River system between India and Pakistan.

“The IWT is not a political arrangement — it is a binding international treaty that cannot be suspended or terminated unilaterally,” said an FO spokesperson.

The FO warned that India’s move to “hold the treaty in abeyance” sets a dangerous precedent, undermining trust in global legal frameworks and casting doubt on India’s credibility as a treaty partner.

Accusations of Weaponizing Water
Pakistan further accused India of "weaponizing water" for political purposes — a move it called highly irresponsible and contrary to accepted international norms.

“Turning water into a political tool threatens not just Pakistan, but the broader principles of responsible state behavior,” the statement said.

Islamabad urged New Delhi to reverse its unilateral position and resume “full and unhindered implementation” of the treaty.

Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Treaty
Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the Indus Waters Treaty, vowing to take all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to protect its water rights.

The FO concluded by emphasizing the importance of respecting international law, and called on all responsible states — including India — to do the same.

Shah: “No Restoration, Water Will Go to Rajasthan”
Amit Shah, in a recent interview with the Times of India, stated categorically that the treaty will never be restored, and that water previously flowing to Pakistan would be redirected to the Indian state of Rajasthan.

“Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably,” Shah said.

The comments have sparked outrage in Islamabad, heightening tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and raising fresh concerns over water security and regional diplomacy in South Asia.