Dar Reiterates IWT is a Legal Framework, Links Water to National Security
At a glance
- Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reiterated that the Indus Waters Treaty is a binding legal framework.
- India unilaterally announced in 2025 it was placing its obligations under the 1960 treaty in abeyance.
- Dar stated that for Pakistan, water security is directly linked to its economic, food, and national security.
Story so far
In 2025, India announced it was unilaterally placing its obligations under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, a move Pakistan has consistently rejected. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has maintained that the treaty remains a valid and binding international legal framework with no provision for unilateral suspension. He has warned that any attempt by India to deprive Pakistan of its allocated water would have serious consequences for regional peace, stressing that water security is a matter of national security for Pakistan. Dar has called on the international community to help preserve the treaty, which is guaranteed by the World Bank.
Latest development
Speaking at a seminar in Washington, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the Indus Waters Treaty as a 'legal framework' and not merely an agreement. He emphasized that for Pakistan, water security is intrinsically linked to its economic, food, and national security, and reiterated that the country is committed to protecting its water rights.
Latest updates
Speaking at a seminar at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as a "legal framework" and not merely an agreement.
Dar stated that for Pakistan, water security is intrinsically linked to its economic, food, and national security. He noted that the World Bank is the guarantor of the treaty, which clearly allocates river waters between the two nations.
The foreign minister reiterated that Pakistan supports resolving differences through negotiation and diplomacy and remains committed to protecting its water rights.
Latest Fact Checks
سندھ طاس محض ایک معاہدہ نہیں، قانونی فریم ورک ہے، اسحاق ڈار
نائب وزیراعظم و وزیر خارجہ اسحاق ڈار نے کہا ہے کہ سندھ طاس محض ایک معاہدہ نہیں بلکہ قانونی فریم ورک ہے، سندھ طاس معاہدہ علاقائی سلامتی کے لیے انتہائی اہم ہے۔
'Profound consequences': Indus Water Treaty must not be weaponised, FM Dar warns India
WASHINGTON: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday warned that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of waters “rightfully allocated to it” under the Indus Waters Treaty would have “profound consequences for regional peace and secur
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