Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said the Indus Waters Treaty remains “valid, binding and operative,” rejecting any suggestion that India can unilaterally suspend it. He warned that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of waters “rightfully allocated” to it could have “profound consequences” for regional peace and security.

Dar made the remarks at a seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty, according to Radio Pakistan, and said no party can terminate treaty obligations unless the agreement itself allows it. He described the 1960 pact as more than a water-sharing arrangement, calling it an important instrument for regional peace, stability and cooperation. He also urged both sides to treat the shared rivers as a basis for dialogue and collaboration rather than confrontation.

His comments come amid a broader dispute over India’s decision to place the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam attack, which New Delhi linked to Pakistan. Pakistan has consistently argued that the treaty cannot be altered or suspended unilaterally and says the agreement remains in force under international law. The issue has grown into a major diplomatic and security flashpoint because the treaty governs the distribution and use of the Indus basin’s waters between the two countries.

Dar’s statement signals that Islamabad sees the treaty as fully alive despite India’s position. For Pakistan, the water dispute is now tied not only to legal interpretation, but also to regional stability and the risk of escalation.