Pakistan Army warns of ‘all measures necessary’ over India’s Indus Waters Treaty suspension

In yet another instance of sabre rattling over India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Pakistani military, echoing its civilian government, has declared that it will take "all measures necessary" to secure what it called the country's "rightful share" of water.

Army's warning

The development comes in the wake of India placing the 1960 treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

Also Read: Pak Minister warns of 'severe consequences' over India's Indus Waters Treaty suspension

The Pakistani Army issued the statement after the 276th Corps Commanders' Conference, chaired by Field Marshal Asim Munir. It said that the country's top military leadership "expressed resolute commitment to undertake all measures necessary to ensure availability of Pakistan's rightful share of water as per the directives of the government and inspirations of the people of Pakistan,” reported NDTV.

'Act of war'

Elaborating further, it stated that the conference reaffirmed the National Security Committee's April 24, 2025, directive, which declared that any attempt to stop or divert Pakistan's share of water would be treated as "an act of war."

Also Read: Pakistan says India cannot misuse Indus Water Treaty allowance

The commanders also reportedly reviewed the country's security situation and expressed satisfaction with the armed forces' operational preparedness. The military raised concerns over militant groups allegedly using Afghan Taliban-controlled territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

"Pakistan has an unequivocal right to defend its people from terrorism, and the Armed Forces shall continue intelligence-based operations against terrorism emanating from Afghan Taliban-controlled territory under the ambit of Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq," it said.

‘Support on Kashmir’

The conference also reportedly reaffirmed Pakistan's "unyielding diplomatic, political and moral support" to Kashmiris.

The military's remarks came days after Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warned that Islamabad was prepared to defend its water rights.

"There will be no compromise on the Indus Water Treaty. If we have to fight a war with India, we will fight," he said while accusing New Delhi of attempting to "weaponise" the Indus waters.

India's stand

The warnings followed India's assertion that the Indus Waters Treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan ends its support for cross-border terrorism. "Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably abjure its support for cross-border terrorism," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.

India has maintained that treaties cannot operate independently of the prevailing security environment.

The backdrop

Brokered by the World Bank in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty governs the sharing of the Indus River system. While India controls the eastern rivers, Pakistan receives the waters of the western rivers. With the treaty now in abeyance, New Delhi is no longer obliged to share flood data and has accelerated work on hydroelectric projects in the Indus basin.

Also Read: India rejects Court of Arbitration and its latest ruling on Indus Waters Treaty

The development assumes significance for Pakistan as nearly 80-90 per cent of its agriculture depends on the Indus system. As the treaty remains suspended, what was once a technical water-sharing arrangement has increasingly become a strategic flashpoint between the two neighbours.