Vienna: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has issued a stern warning about the potential for regional instability over any attempts to undermine Pakistan’s water rights. Speaking through a video link at the “International Water Symposium” in Vienna, Dar emphasized the critical importance of water security to national stability and peace.

According to Radio Pakistan, the symposium was organized by Pakistan in conjunction with the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. Dar stressed that water security is intrinsically linked with food and economic security, and by extension, national security. He highlighted the historical significance of the Indus River system, which supports the livelihoods of over 250 million Pakistanis and has been a cradle of civilization for millennia.

Dar stated that for nations sharing transboundary river systems, cooperation and adherence to legal frameworks are essential. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes, cautioning against the use of shared waters as instruments of political pressure.

The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty and criticized India’s alleged weaponisation of water resources. He emphasized the importance of the international community’s role in upholding international law and treaty obligations, warning that any effort to deprive Pakistan of its rightful water resources could have serious implications for regional peace.