
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif has escalated tensions by issuing a warning to India over the Indus Waters Treaty, following recent threats from Army Chief Asim Munir.
This development adds another layer of strain to already fragile diplomatic ties between the two countries, as water security emerges as a key flashpoint in South Asia’s geopolitics.
Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad, Shehbaz Sharif accused India of “deliberately undermining” the spirit of the Indus Waters Treaty, which has governed the sharing of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan since 1960. He warned that any unilateral changes or violations by India would be met with “firm and decisive action” from Pakistan.
This statement comes days after Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, made aggressive remarks targeting India’s infrastructure projects on the Indus and its tributaries, calling them a “direct threat” to Pakistan’s water security. Together, the comments from Pakistan’s political and military leadership signal a coordinated stance against India’s management of the treaty.
Experts note that the Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, has survived multiple wars between India and Pakistan, but recent geopolitical frictions, climate challenges, and growing water scarcity have put it under strain. India has maintained that its projects comply fully with treaty provisions, while Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns at international forums.
The latest warning from Shehbaz Sharif is likely to intensify the already tense diplomatic environment between New Delhi and Islamabad, raising fears of further confrontations in the near future.