ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, has declared that the nation will not permit India to use water as a weapon, despite Pakistan’s commitment to peace. The remarks were made during an event at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, where a report on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was launched.

According to Radio Pakistan, Tarar emphasized that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be changed or nullified unilaterally. He noted the court of arbitration’s support for Pakistan’s position, reinforcing the argument against any unilateral modifications to the treaty.

Tarar outlined Pakistan’s diplomatic approach to the issue, highlighting efforts to involve the international community in maintaining the treaty’s status. He cited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the UN General Assembly, where Sharif called the treaty the lifeblood of Pakistan and the region, warning against any actions perceived as acts of war.

The Information Minister underscored the treaty’s role as a stabilizing force in the region and argued against water weaponization on legal, diplomatic, and moral grounds. He urged the global community to consider the precedent set by allowing a state to disregard an international water treaty, warning of potential broader implications for transboundary water governance.

Tarar concluded by affirming Pakistan’s commitment to international law and its continued engagement with the global community to safeguard its national interests.