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Responding to Indian Water Resources Minister CR Patil’s declaration that “not a single drop of water will go to Pakistan in the coming years,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi warned on Thursday that any attempt to block water essential to Pakistan’s survival would be a deeply irresponsible act contrary to international obligations and the Indus Waters Treaty.
Reiterating Pakistan’s stance, he said any such act would be treated with utmost seriousness and would amount to an act of war.
“Pakistan will take all necessary measures to safeguard its economy and its vital national interests and the lives of its 250 million people. We call upon India to take responsibility, honour its international commitments and refrain from statements and actions that would further escalate tensions in the region.”
Patil had told India’s ANI news agency that India was “actively working on it” following “directives” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On the escalating Middle East situation, Andrabi said Pakistan remained deeply concerned and appealed to all parties to honour the ceasefire understanding and refrain from widening hostilities.
“We remain engaged and we work with a degree of optimism — such optimism is essentially required for a mediator or a facilitator,” he said, acknowledging that fresh hostilities had significantly narrowed diplomatic space.
He cited recent mediatory efforts, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Tehran carrying a message from Pakistan’s leadership, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s late-Wednesday call with his Turkish counterpart, during which both sides stressed dialogue and restraint.
Andrabi dismissed Indian statements on Azad Jammu and Kashmir in their entirety, drawing a sharp contrast with Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which he described as an internationally recognised disputed territory where people have been subjected to systemic abuses and denied the right to self-determination.
AJK, by contrast, was addressing its issues within a democratic and constitutional framework, he said.
On the SIPRI report, the spokesperson said its findings corroborated Pakistan’s longstanding concerns over India’s military build-up, including canisterisation, sea-based systems and longer-range ballistic missiles.
“We are not interested in an arms race or matching warheads by number. However, we remain mindful of the evolving security environment and will continue to take measures essential for preserving strategic stability,” he said.
Andrabi said the government was actively engaged with Somali authorities and the ship owner to secure the release of ten Pakistani crew members held by pirates for nearly 50 days.
DPM Dar has spoken with the Somali foreign minister and urged improved conditions for all 17 crew members aboard, regardless of nationality.
On xenophobic attacks in South Africa, he said Pakistan’s embassy in Pretoria was coordinating with local authorities to ensure the safety of Pakistani nationals.
Regarding strikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, he said the operations were carried out on credible intelligence and precisely targeted terrorist hideouts linked to the Bannu attack.
On deportations from the UAE, he said Pakistani missions were engaged to assist affected nationals and recover any left-behind assets.
