NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday declared that Pakistan will not receive water from rivers over which India holds rights, intensifying tensions in the ongoing dispute over water access following a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In response, Pakistan’s Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan told Reuters that Islamabad remains open to discussing water sharing with India but stressed that any talks must adhere to the decades-old treaty governing the matter.
“Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack… Pakistan’s army will pay it. Pakistan’s economy will pay it,” Modi said during a public event in Rajasthan.
Meanwhile, Awan emphasized Pakistan’s willingness to engage in dialogue, saying, “Pakistan is willing to talk about or address any concerns they may have.”
He noted that India had recently approached Pakistan proposing changes to the treaty, citing factors such as population growth and the need for clean energy. However, Awan maintained that any discussions must take place within the treaty’s legal framework.
Islamabad upholds that the treaty is legally binding and cannot be suspended unilaterally by either party, Awan added.
“For Pakistan, the treaty remains fully operational and functional. Any actions India takes, such as constructing hydroelectric projects, are done at its own risk and expense,” he said.
The ceasefire between the two countries has largely held, with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar confirming there have been no recent exchanges of fire and noting that forces have been repositioned accordingly.
