Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Islamabad could resort to military action if it believes India's moves on the Indus river system threaten the country's water security, escalating rhetoric amid an increasingly bitter dispute over the suspended Indus Waters Treaty.
Speaking to ARY News, Asif described water as a core national security issue and said Pakistan would not hesitate to respond if it perceived a serious threat to its access to Indus basin waters.
"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.
He also suggested Pakistan, which is facing a crippling water crisis, could act if there were indications that India was moving rapidly to restrict or alter water flows under the river-sharing arrangement.
The remarks came after a video clip surfaced of India's Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil indicating that the flow of Indus waters to Pakistan could be completely stopped by June 2028.
|
'Desperate bid': India slams Asif India hit back at Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over his recent war threat, saying the remark was a desperate attempt by Islamabad to deflect attention from its human rights abuses. This came as New Delhi highlighted the brutal crackdown on ongoing anti-establishment protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "Regarding the comments made by the Pakistani Defence Minister, we have seen reports on the matter. Such remarks are desperate attempts by Pakistan to cover up its own failings and divert attention away from its human rights abuses. We categorically reject these fabricated claims with the contempt they deserve," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing. The official also called on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for the clampdown on the protests in PoK. |
