Pakistan warned India against the weaponization of water and urged respect for the Indus Waters Treaty during a May 26 event [2].
Water security is a critical flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Any disruption to the shared river system could destabilize the region and threaten the agricultural viability of Pakistan.
Dr. Musadik Malik, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, delivered the warning during a high-level international water conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan [4]. Malik said that any attempt by India to deprive Pakistan of its share of water under the treaty would amount to the weaponization of water and could have serious consequences for regional peace and security [3].
Malik said India must avoid water aggression and any attempts to undermine the agreement [2]. The Indus Waters Treaty permits Pakistan to utilize 80 percent of the Indus water basin for its agricultural needs [5].
The minister used strong language to describe the potential for escalation. Malik said, "We will cut off those hands if India continues to violate the treaty" [3].
Pakistan maintains that violating or suspending the treaty would set a dangerous precedent, and undermine regional security [1]. The warning comes amid ongoing tensions over water management and treaty compliance between the two nations [1].
“"Any attempt by India to deprive Pakistan of its share of water... would amount to the weaponization of water."”
The Indus Waters Treaty has historically survived multiple wars between India and Pakistan, serving as a rare point of diplomatic stability. However, the shift in rhetoric toward 'water weaponization' suggests that water security is increasingly being viewed through a national security lens rather than a technical or environmental one. If either side moves to suspend the treaty, it could trigger a cascade of diplomatic failures and increase the risk of kinetic conflict over essential natural resources.
