Pakistan Army Vows Force to Secure Indus Water Rights

The Military of Pakistan and political leadership vowed to take all necessary measures to secure the country's water shares following India's decision to place the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance. India suspended the treaty in April 2025 following a terror attack in Pahalgam, making restoration contingent on Pakistan ending its support for cross-border terrorism. This action contradicts a May ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which stated that India cannot unilaterally suspend the agreement.

Field Marshal Asim Munir presided over the 276th Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi, where he directed commanders to maintain high operational readiness and expedite a multi-domain transformation plan to counter hybrid threats. The military leadership aligned with National Security Committee directives that view the treaty's suspension as an act of war. Simultaneously, the army affirmed its intent to continue Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq, intelligence-based operations targeting Indian-sponsored terrorist groups operating from Afghan Taliban-controlled territory.

Political and militant figures issued sharp warnings against the water blockade. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of weaponizing the treaty and stated Pakistan is prepared to fight for its rights. Climate Change Minister Musadik Masood Malik and military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry also threatened severe retaliation, while Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed warned of violence if water supplies were stopped.