Dar Says India’s IWT Move Adds ‘Dangerous Dimension’ to Tensions
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said India’s attempt to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance has introduced another “dangerous dimension” to tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Dar made the remarks while addressing a ministerial meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
He argued that the 1960 water-sharing treaty remains a binding international agreement and contains no provision allowing either party to suspend it unilaterally. He said international commitments must continue to be respected even during periods of heightened bilateral tension.
India announced in April 2025 that it was placing the treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people. New Delhi linked its decision to allegations of Pakistani support for cross-border terrorism, allegations Islamabad has denied.
The dispute has subsequently moved through the treaty’s legal mechanisms. On August 31, 2026, a Court of Arbitration constituted under the treaty ruled that the IWT remained fully in force and that India could not unilaterally suspend or terminate it. The tribunal also issued interim measures restricting specified construction at the disputed Ratle Hydroelectric Plant.
Pakistan welcomed that ruling, describing it as confirmation of its position that the treaty remained binding. India has disputed the legitimacy of the arbitration proceedings, so the parties continue to differ sharply over the tribunal and its decisions.
During Wednesday’s OIC meeting, Dar cited the arbitration findings and said unilateral action by one party could not remove the tribunal’s jurisdiction or eliminate obligations governing the western rivers allocated principally to Pakistan under the treaty.
The foreign minister also linked the water dispute with broader Pakistan-India tensions, including Jammu and Kashmir. He said the military confrontation between the countries in May 2025 demonstrated the risks created by unresolved disputes between nuclear-armed neighbours.
Dar argued that military force could not provide a sustainable resolution and called instead for dialogue, diplomacy and adherence to international law. He reiterated Pakistan’s position that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of Kashmiris.
He also urged OIC members to maintain what he called a “unified and visible” position on Kashmir at the United Nations and other international forums and to strengthen diplomatic coordination in New York and Geneva.
Pakistan has separately said it intends to continue using legal and political mechanisms available under the treaty and international law to pursue its claims concerning the Indus river system.
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by Pakistan and India in 1960 with World Bank involvement and established rules governing use of the Indus river system. Despite decades of political and military tensions between the two countries, the agreement remained operational for more than six decades before India’s 2025 abeyance announcement.
The dispute therefore remains both a legal and diplomatic issue. The arbitration ruling supports the continuing operation of the treaty within that dispute-settlement process, while India contests the proceedings and maintains a different legal position.
