Pakistan warns water weaponisation will be treated as act of aggression

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has warned that any weaponisation of water will be treated as an act of aggression against Pakistan, adding that the country reserves the right to defend its national interests in accordance with international law.

In his address, Ishaq Dar also said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) carried out a precise and proportionate operation targeting Indian military installations, with the resulting damage to Indian assets being well documented. He said the developments in May highlighted that regional stability can only be achieved through coordinated peace efforts.

The deputy prime minister thanked countries that supported Pakistan during the US–Iran peace process, calling their engagement an important contribution to diplomacy and regional stability.

Referring to regional tensions, he said India’s use of force following the Pulwama attack in February 2019 was unlawful. He also noted that prior to April 2025, Pakistan had observed Indian threats related to the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any aggression in this regard would be met with a firm response, as demonstrated in 2025 during Operation Marka-e-Haq.

Ishaq Dar further said India’s continued reliance on extremist ideological narratives poses a threat to regional peace and stability.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment as a responsible UN member state to supporting global peace initiatives, stressing that durable peace is essential for economic stability, even as the Kashmir dispute remains unresolved.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s constructive role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), its strengthening partnership with China through CPEC, and its continued engagement with the European Union.

On the Middle East, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding support for Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The foreign minister also noted Pakistan’s diplomatic role in facilitating early April talks between the United States and Iran, saying Islamabad played a key role in bringing both sides to the negotiating table after decades of tension.