ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi Thursday said that under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), India could not misuse its “restricted allowance for unilaterally building any hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.”
In his weekly media briefing, he made these remarks while responding to a question about India’s approval of the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district of India-held Jammu and Kashmir.
The IWT, which was signed by Pakistan and India in 1960, gives India complete rights to the waters of the eastern rivers (Ravi, Sutlej and Beas) and gives Pakistan the rights over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) with limited allowance for use of water by India from the western rivers for purposes of, among others, power generation.
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Andrabi said, “We have seen media reports regarding Indian plans to construct the Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric project on the Chenab River. These reports raise serious concerns as no prior information or notification was shared with Pakistan.” “Such acts of commission and omission yet again exemplify a complete disregard of international law and bilateral treaties.
The Pakistani commissioner for Indus water has sought clarification from his counterpart in India regarding the nature, scope, and technical details of the reported projects,” he said. “Any such project on the western river is subject to strict design and operational controls as well as information sharing requirements,” the spokesperson added.
Pakistan and India exchanged the lists of their respective nuclear installations, in continuation of the annual practice under an agreement signed between the two neighbours in 1988.
He said that under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, both nations are committed to annually sharing information about their nuclear installations and facilities.
“A list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to the representative of the Indian High Commission in the Foreign Office on Thursday.
“I understand that the Indian government is also sharing the list of Indian nuclear installations with our High Commission in New Delhi,” he said.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan and India have also exchanged a list of prisoners, he said. He added that the Indian government is also sharing the list of Pakistani prisoners in their custody with the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan handed over a list of 257 Indian prisoners (58 civil and 199 fishermen) to the High Commission of India in Islamabad.
In pursuance of the Agreement on Consular Access, 2008, both sides are required to share the lists of prisoners in each other’s custody on January 1 and July 1, every year.
In response to a question about the recent US arms sales to Taiwan, Andrabi said that Pakistan has “consistently supported China, in all matters of its core interests, including Taiwan”. He stressed, “Pakistan will continue to adhere to the One-China principle. We regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China. We would urge all relevant countries to abide by their historical commitments. They must take steps to foster peace, security, and development in Taiwan.”
The FO spokesperson also recalled that during a press briefing of the foreign minister on Saturday, a few colleagues had asked about the issue of Pakistani nationals stranded in Afghanistan due to the border closure. He clarified that 15 students and another 291 individuals had safely returned to Pakistan. “You may note that a total of 1,199 Pakistanis approached our embassy in Kabul seeking assistance for their return; these include 549 students and 402 [other] individuals,” he said, adding that Pakistan is in contact with the Afghan authorities.
Regarding Pakistan’s position on the issue of Yemen, the spokesperson said that the matter is anchored in the issue of Yemen. “Like other countries, Pakistan also wants to help bring peace, stability, and progress in Yemen. Pakistan’s statements are reflective of that position. Our relations with the UAE and Saudi Arabia have their own strength. The Yemen situation is related to the issue of Yemen and the parties involved in the conflict.
Andrabi said that Pakistan and China would hold the 7th round of the Pakistan–China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, scheduled to be held in Beijing on 4 January 2026. This Dialogue is taking place at the level of Foreign Ministers, and Ishaq Dar will be visiting China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
The spokesperson also said that Pakistan reiterates its “unequivocal rejection” of any steps aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land under any circumstances, and reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their just struggle for self-determination and for a sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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