\u00a0Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned Indian Home Minister Amit Shah\u2019s assertion that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) “will never be restored,” calling it a blatant breach of international law and a dangerous precedent.”The statement reflects a brazen disregard for the sanctity of international agreements,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement issued in response to Shah\u2019s comments. India put into “abeyance” its participation in the 1960 treaty, which governs the usage of the Indus river system, after 26 civilians in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) were killed in what Delhi described as an act of terror.\u00a0 The treaty guaranteed water access for 80% of Pakistan’s farms through three rivers originating in India.Pakistan has denied involvement in the incident, but the accord remains dormant despite a ceasefire agreed upon by the two nuclear-armed neighbours last month following their worst fighting in decades. Speaking to the\u00a0Times of India, the Indian home minister said that India will never restore the Indus Waters Treaty with Islamabad, and the water flowing to Pakistan will be diverted for internal use. “We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably,” said Shah, referring to the northwestern Indian state. \u201cThe Indus Waters Treaty is not a political arrangement, but an international treaty with no provision for unilateral action,\u201d said the FO spokesperson. “India\u2019s illegal announcement to hold the treaty in abeyance constitutes a clear violation of international law, the provisions of the treaty itself, and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations.\u201d Calling India’s stance a \u201creckless and dangerous precedent,\u201d the FO added that such behaviour \u201cundermines the credibility of international agreements\u201d and raises serious questions about \u201cthe reliability and trustworthiness of a state that openly refuses to fulfil its legal obligations.\u201d The spokesperson further warned that \u201cweaponising water for political ends is irresponsible and contrary to established norms of responsible state behaviour,\u201d urging India to \u201cimmediately rescind its unilateral and unlawful stance.\u201d \u201cPakistan remains firmly committed to the treaty,\u201d the statement said, \u201cand will take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and entitlements under it.\u201d The latest comments from Shah, the most powerful cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, have dimmed Islamabad’s hopes for negotiations on the treaty in the near term. Last month,\u00a0Reuters\u00a0reported that India plans to dramatically increase the water it draws from a major river that feeds Pakistani farms downstream, as part of retaliatory action. Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to\u00a0Reuters’ request for comments. But the ministry has stated in the past that the treaty has no provision for one side to unilaterally pull back, and that any blocking of river water flowing to Pakistan will be considered “an act of war”. Islamabad is also exploring a legal challenge to India’s decision to hold the treaty in abeyance under international law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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