Pakistan warns of 'act of war' over Indus Waters Treaty, calls for dialogue with India

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for a "composite dialogue" with India to address all bilateral disputes, but warned that any move by India to block Pakistan’s water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would be seen as an “act of war”. His comments come weeks after India suspended the IWT in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead.

Speaking in the Pakistan Senate on Thursday, Dar said that although a ceasefire understanding between the two sides remains in place until May 18, “a political process” was essential to resolve all outstanding issues. He reiterated that Islamabad was willing to engage diplomatically but would not accept any action that compromises Pakistan’s water security.

Referring to the treaty, Dar added, “We have told the world that we are ready for a composite dialogue,” but insisted that blocking Pakistan’s water rights under the treaty would escalate tensions severely. He labelled such a move as a potential act of aggression.

India, meanwhile, has maintained that dialogue with Pakistan will focus only on Islamabad’s support for terrorism. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar ruled out talks on Kashmir or the Indus Waters Treaty and reiterated that any engagement would happen bilaterally and strictly on cross-border terror. He said Pakistan must dismantle its terror infrastructure and hand over wanted individuals.

The ceasefire along the border has largely held, although incidents such as drone sightings continue to raise concerns. India and Pakistan have reportedly agreed to maintain confidence-building measures through military channels like the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs), but New Delhi remains firm on its precondition that terror must stop before any comprehensive talks.