Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has warned that Pakistan could go to war with India if it believes its water security is under serious threat. The statement comes as tensions between the two countries continue over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Speaking in an interview with Pakistani broadcaster ARY News, Asif said water is a part of Pakistan’s national security. He stated that if Pakistan feels India is threatening its water supply, it would consider military action. He also claimed that the government is closely monitoring developments related to the Indus river system.
“The moment we feel that our national security — and water is part of our national security — is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely,” he said.
The comments come after the channel played a clip of India's Water Minister C.R. Patil, saying that the flow of Indus water to Pakistan could be stopped completely by June 2028.
The remarks come at a time when Pakistan is facing a severe water shortage, with reports of worsening conditions in several parts of the country. The issue has added to growing concerns over water availability for agriculture and daily use.
India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack, saying the agreement would remain on hold until Pakistan takes credible action against cross border terrorism. The treaty, signed in 1960 with the help of the World Bank, governs the sharing of waters from the Indus river system between the two countries.
Pakistan has accused India of using water as a pressure tactic, while India has maintained that its decision is linked to national security concerns and terrorism. The latest comments by the Pakistani Defence Minister have further raised tensions between the two neighbours, although there has been no official response from the Indian government to the latest threat so far.
