ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday asked India to fully comply with the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), reiterating that Islamabad will never compromise on the water rights of its people.
This was stated by Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi during his weekly press briefing. His remarks came after India declined to participate in the recent proceedings of the Court of Arbitration held at The Hague to address water-related issues between the two countries.
Andrabi said that Pakistan was committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and issues with India through dialogue and international legal mechanisms.
“Pakistan calls upon India to return to full treaty compliance and fulfill its obligations,” he said. He further stated that Pakistan has taken up the controversial Svalkot project being built by India on the River Chenab by writing a letter to India’s Indus Water Commissioner on 11 February as mandated by the IWT.
He said that Pakistan’s legal team participated in the proceedings of the Court of Arbitration, which were held at The Hague, on 2nd to 3rd February, and it would remain engaged with the process despite India’s refusal to attend the proceedings. We reiterate that the IWT remains a binding international instrument. “No unilateral actions or defiance can alter this legal reality. We reiterate that we will never compromise on our existential water rights of our people,” he said.
Responding to a question about the UAE deposits and the issue of their rollover, the spokesperson said that the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister is seized of the matter and is playing a very positive role in coordination and consultation with the relevant authorities in the UAE.
He added that the tenure of the rollover is the prerogative of the depositor. However, due to the positive role played by Ishaq Dar, the rollover is assured and is not linked to the tenure.
Responding to another question regarding the latest UN Security Council Committee’s report on situation in Afghanistan, Andrabi said that the report ‘extensively supports’ Pakistan’s narrative on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Afghanistan.
The report, he said, corroborates Pakistan’s position that TTP resurgence is linked to post 2021, interim Afghan government takeover.
Pakistan’s claims that TTP benefits from freedom of movement and access to resources in Afghanistan explicitly highlights that Pakistan is the main target of TTP attacks, validating that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism, bearing the brunt of violence originating from Afghanistan.
Andrabi said that Pakistan would follow the report up with the relevant UN Secretariat and departments, and also with the members of the international community, particularly the members of the Security Council and other relevant stakeholders.
The spokesperson said that diplomacy with Afghanistan continues. Diplomacy continues even in wars. He said that Pakistan would not shut the door of diplomacy, as much as we would not want to open the door of wars between our two brotherly countries.
We wish peace and prosperity to our Afghan brothers and sisters. But we do not want their territory to be used against Pakistan. At the same time, he, however, clarified that Pakistan reserves the right to defend itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter against such attacks, and our security forces stand vigilant in this regard.
Responding to the question on Trump’s statement on Indian losses in May conflict, the FO spokesperson said: “We have stated it previously, and I wish to reiterate it here that Pakistan is appreciative of the role of the United States during our 90-hour war with India.”
The role of the United States was for peace, for prevention of war, and prevention of violence. In that context, President Trump’s statements, previous statements, and these statements are all obviously welcomed and endorsed.
He said that Pakistan shot down a number of Indian Rafale jets, and the evidence is all over – available internationally, corroborated by international reports, including by the manufacturers of these planes.
The spokesperson criticized India for trying to find justification for terrorist attacks carried out in Pakistan. He said India supports terrorism taking place against Pakistan. This exception is written large on India’s statements.
Andrabi welcomed the talks between the United States and Iran held in Oman. He said that Pakistan supports all initiatives of dialogue and diplomacy undertaken by the United States and Iran to move toward a ‘negotiated solution’.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026