Pakistan Warns India Against Tampering with Its Water Rights, Says Climate Minister Musadik Malik

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik issued a strong warning to India on Sunday, stating that Pakistan would not tolerate any interference with its water resources.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Malik said Pakistan had made clear that it would not compromise on its share of water, and that anyone attempting to interfere with it would face serious consequences.

The minister questioned whether upstream nations had the right to block water flow to downstream countries, describing it as part of Pakistan’s tradition to stand up for its rights. He accused India of reneging on its commitments under the Indus Waters Treaty, alleging that New Delhi was using water as a tool of pressure against Pakistan.

Speaking at the same press conference, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the Indus Waters Treaty could not be unilaterally suspended, reiterating that both the Prime Minister and the Field Marshal had consistently described water as a matter of national survival for Pakistan. Tarar added that international water experts were expected to attend an upcoming conference to discuss the significance of water resources, where the importance of the Indus Waters Treaty for Pakistan would be highlighted.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the distribution of the Indus River system’s waters between India and Pakistan. Tensions over the treaty have escalated significantly over the past year, with India placing the agreement in abeyance following the Pahalgam attack in 2025, a move Pakistan has repeatedly challenged as a violation of international law.

— This report is based on statements made by Pakistani officials at a press conference in Islamabad.