Pakistan warns water blockade will be treated as an “act of war”

The Foreign Office has warned that any intentional move to obstruct water flows essential to Pakistan’s survival and development would carry far-reaching consequences. Speaking during the weekly press briefing on Thursday, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said such an action could be treated with utmost seriousness and might even fall under the scope of an act of war in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. His remarks came in response to recent statements by India’s Water Minister C.R. Patil, who reportedly told an Indian media outlet that “not a single drop of water will go to Pakistan in the coming years,” adding that work in this regard was underway under directives from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reacting to these comments, Andrabi said any attempt to block or significantly reduce water flows vital to the livelihoods, agriculture, and well-being of over 250 million people in Pakistan would be “highly irresponsible.” He added that such measures would violate established international obligations related to transboundary rivers as well as the existing bilateral arrangements between the two countries. He stressed that Pakistan rejects any effort to use water as a political lever or instrument of pressure, warning that such an approach would endanger peace and stability in South Asia and beyond. He further said responsibility for any escalation threatening international peace would rest with India. Tahir Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan’s water rights and interests are non-negotiable. He said Islamabad would firmly defend them through all available diplomatic, political, legal, and economic channels in accordance with international law and the UN framework. He warned that any deliberate disruption of water supplies critical to Pakistan would amount to an extremely grave development with far-reaching implications, as already emphasised by the country’s leadership. Andrabi added that Pakistan retains the right to take all necessary steps in self-defence to p