He was addressing an international seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in Islamabad, attended by federal ministers, legal experts, water specialists, diplomats, and international scholars.

Dar said Pakistan would not accept any unlawful interference with its water resources, adding that respect for international treaties was essential.

He recalled that the National Security Committee had decided that any attempt to divert or curtail Pakistan’s water would be considered an act of war following India’s move to suspend the treaty.

The IWT allocates the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — to India, while the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — are largely allocated to Pakistan. The 1960 water-sharing agreement has also established mechanisms for data-sharing and dispute resolution.

Dar underscored that the treaty justified that confidence for more than six decades, including periods of war and political tension. It has rightly been regarded as one of the most successful examples of trans-boundary water cooperation anywhere in the world.

He said it is regrettable that this landmark treaty now faces its gravest challenge. He said India’s unilateral decision to place the treaty in abeyance has no basis in the treaty itself or in international law.

Dar said Pakistan rejects India’s unilateral and illegal announcement. He added that the Indus Waters Treaty remains valid, binding and operative. No party can unilaterally suspend or terminate its obligations under a treaty that contains no such provision.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan would safeguard the sanctity of the IWT under all circumstances, describing India’s unilateral suspension of the agreement as a violation of international law.

He said Pakistan would continue raising the issue at all legal and diplomatic forums, warning that using water as a weapon posed a serious threat to regional peace.

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said water resources had become a central issue in global politics and security, adding that lasting peace between Pakistan and India would remain elusive without the restoration of the IWT.

Indus Waters Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah said India had stopped sharing mandatory hydrological data under the treaty since August 2023 and alleged that projects, including the Chenab-Beas link, violated the agreement.

He said Pakistan had already raised the matter before the international Court of Arbitration, the United Nations, and other relevant forums.

Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik warned that if the IWT were allowed to collapse, no international agreement in the world would remain secure.

Russian water expert Dr Roxolana Zygun also criticised India’s position, saying any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its water share would violate international law. She described the Indus Waters Treaty as the foundation of equitable water sharing in South Asia.

International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi said India’s continued suspension of the treaty contravened international law and the UN Charter, adding that access to water, air, and food had long been recognised as fundamental human necessities.