HYDERABAD: Sindh Minister for Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro has strongly accused India of attempting to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any move to stop or divert Pakistan’s share of water would amount to an act of aggression with serious consequences addressing press conference at the Hyderabad Press Club on Saturday.
The provincial minister said India was making unilateral attempts to violate the treaty by suspending water-related cooperation and data sharing, which he described as a grave threat to regional peace and stability.
Recalling historical events, Jam Khan Shoro said that soon after the creation of Pakistan in 1947, water was used as a political weapon in an attempt to weaken the newly established state. He said those efforts failed because of the resilience of the Pakistani nation.
The minister highlighted the historical, geographical and religious importance of the Indus River, stating that it is sacred not only to Muslims but also to Hindus. He said the province of Sindh derives its identity from the Indus (Sindhu) River and emphasized that the people living along the river have the foremost right to its waters under international law.
He said Pakistan had honoured the Indus Waters Treaty by allowing India the use of the eastern rivers within the framework of the agreement, but alleged that India had extensively diverted those waters, resulting in environmental degradation, reduced freshwater flows and the destruction of vast agricultural lands and the Indus Delta.
Jam Khan Shoro warned that climate change had already significantly reduced water availability, while India’s alleged attempts to target Pakistan’s remaining water resources posed an even greater threat. He said Sindh would be the worst affected if river flows were disrupted further.
The minister claimed that India had stopped sharing hydrological data required under the treaty, making it difficult to monitor water flows. He maintained that international norms prohibit the blocking of transboundary rivers even where no formal agreement exists, adding that the Indus Waters Treaty provides Pakistan with clear legal protection.
Issuing a strong warning, Jam Khan Shoro said Pakistan would not remain a silent spectator if India attempted to block or divert its share of water. He stated that any practical move to interfere with the natural flow of the Indus River would be treated as an act of war, adding that Pakistan would defend its national interests and would not rely solely on international forums.
He further said the state could not allow its 240 million citizens to be deprived of water and reaffirmed that Pakistan would go to every extent necessary to safeguard its water rights and national sovereignty.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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