Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has warned that any attempt by India to divert the flow of rivers allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an act of war.
Speaking on Aaj TV’s program Spotlight, Sanaullah said that suspending the treaty on paper means nothing. Pakistan is still receiving its share of water, but if India tries to block or divert river flows, that would be treated as a declaration of war.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, following India’s reported intentions to unilaterally nullify aspects of the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old agreement brokered by the World Bank in 1960 to manage the shared use of rivers between the two countries.
Sanaullah also addressed India’s stance on the 2008 Mumbai attacks, saying that New Delhi never provided credible evidence or engaged seriously with Pakistan.
In a notable development, the adviser revealed that Pakistan has proposed the formation of an independent commission between India and Pakistan to investigate terror incidents on both sides. He said that we have offered the creation of a neutral body to probe acts of terrorism in both countries and the proposal had been officially communicated to India.
The warning about the treaty comes at a time when bilateral relations are strained following recent military escalations, particularly after cross-border strikes and airspace violations in May 2025. Experts have cautioned that tampering with water-sharing arrangements could push both countries closer to conflict.
The Indus Waters Treaty has long been seen as a rare example of sustained cooperation between India and Pakistan. However, its unilateral suspension or violation could have severe geopolitical consequences, including risking stability across South Asia.
Massive Indian losses after Pakistan launches Operation Bunyanun Marsoos
