Pakistan military raises Indus water issue

Pakistan’s top military leadership has said it will take “all measures necessary” to secure the country’s water share under the Indus Waters Treaty, months after India placed the decades-old pact in abeyance following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack. The statement was issued after the 276th Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi, chaired by Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, and reflected Islamabad’s growing concern over the future of the 1960 water-sharing agreement.

The Pakistan Army said the commanders reaffirmed guidance issued by the National Security Committee on April 24, 2025, after India’s move on the treaty. Pakistan has argued that any attempt to stop or divert its allocated water would be treated as a serious hostile act, while India has said the treaty remains in abeyance because of Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism. The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, governs the use of the Indus River system and has long been considered one of the most important agreements between the two countries.

Treaty dispute adds to regional tensions

The Indus system is critical for Pakistan’s agriculture, hydropower and water security, making the dispute more than a diplomatic disagreement. Under the treaty, India has rights over the eastern rivers, while Pakistan receives water from the western rivers, including the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India’s suspension of participation does not automatically stop water flows, but it has raised concerns in Pakistan over data sharing, river management and future infrastructure activity.

Security concerns also reviewed

The commanders’ conference also reviewed Pakistan’s broader security environment and expressed satisfaction with the armed forces’ operational preparedness. The forum raised concern over what it described as militant groups using Afghan Taliban-controlled territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The military said intelligence-based operations would continue under Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq against terrorism linked to those areas.

For US-based readers, the dispute highlights how water, terrorism, military readiness and regional diplomacy are now deeply connected in South Asia. The latest statement does not announce a specific operation, but it signals that Pakistan’s military sees the Indus issue as a national security priority at a time when India-Pakistan relations remain under severe strain.