India Slams Pakistan’s ‘War Over Water’ Remark, Calls Claims Fabricated and Points to Human Rights Record
India on Tuesday firmly rejected Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif’s remarks suggesting that Islamabad could consider military action if its water security was threatened, saying such statements were based on “fabricated claims” and meant to distract from Pakistan’s own internal challenges.
Speaking at the Ministry of External Affairs’ weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had taken note of the comments but dismissed them outright. He stated that the rhetoric was an attempt to shift global attention away from Pakistan’s governance issues and alleged human rights concerns.
The Indian government also raised the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, alleging that people living in the region continue to face economic exploitation, restrictions on basic freedoms and administrative oppression. Jaiswal further accused Pakistan of imposing internet shutdowns, limiting essential services and using force against civilians, while urging the international community to take note of the situation.
The diplomatic exchange comes after Khwaja Asif warned that any action affecting Pakistan’s water supply could provoke a military response. His comments were made amid growing concerns over water availability in Pakistan and renewed debate surrounding the Indus river system.
India, however, reiterated that its position on the Indus Waters Treaty remains unchanged. New Delhi had earlier placed the treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, as part of a series of measures announced against Pakistan.
Brokered by the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty governs the sharing of water from the Indus river system, giving India control over the eastern rivers while allocating the western rivers primarily to Pakistan, subject to certain rights retained by India.
The latest exchange adds another layer to the already strained relationship between the two neighbours, with water security and cross-border issues continuing to remain key points of diplomatic friction.
