In a sharp response to a recent attack in Kashmir, India has annulled its landmark 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, a decision that threatens to further intensify already strained relations between the two nations.
Pakistan, in turn, has reacted strongly, warning that any attempt to block water supplies from the Indus River will be viewed as a declaration of war.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif delivered a resolute message on 26 April, vowing that Pakistan would not tolerate the use of water as a weapon and would safeguard its water rights "at any cost."
This statement came during a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in which Sharif reiterated Pakistan's commitment to fighting terrorism in all forms and reaffirmed the nation's position on the Kashmir dispute.
Prime Minister Sharif made it clear that there was no direct or indirect link between Pakistan and the recent attack in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, specifically the assault in Pahalgam.
Sharif emphasised that Pakistan itself had long been a victim of terrorism, with thousands of lives lost and significant economic damage over the past two decades.
In his comments, Sharif also reiterated Pakistan's willingness to cooperate in an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam attack, distancing the country from the incident and urging peace in the region.
He added that Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir remained unwavering, supporting the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination under various UN resolutions.
The cancellation of the Indus Water Treaty follows increasing tensions between the two countries, particularly regarding the status of Kashmir, a region disputed between India and Pakistan since 1947.
While India claims the insurgency in Kashmir is driven by Pakistani-backed terrorism, Pakistan maintains it is a legitimate freedom movement, with thousands of casualties over the course of the decades-long conflict.
