 "Pakistan's Ishaq Dar rakes Indus Water Treaty issue at EU forum as agriculture sector takes a hit")
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar once again raised the issue of the Indus Water Treaty, insisting that its abeyance poses “a real threat to regional stability”. Dar’s remarks on the matter came while he was delivering his address at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum Roundtable.
During his speech, Dar called for the immediate reversal of the abeyance, adding that water should remain “a source of cooperation, not weaponised for politics”. He went on to laud international partners, including the EU High Representative, in efforts to calm the recent escalation, Geo News reported. Apart from the treaty, he also brought out the Kashmir issue on an international platform, something India has maintained should be discussed bilaterally.
It is pertinent to note that the Indus Water Treaty was put on hold after the devastating Pahalgam terror attack in southern Kashmir, which led to the death of 26 Indians. While investigating the case, Indian authorities found that some of the terrorists who orchestrated the attack were Pakistani nationals.
While the terrorists still remain at large, India announced that the treaty will remain in abeyance because “blood and water cannot flow together”.
Pakistan’s agricultural sector takes a hit
The 2025 Ecological Threat Report, released by the Sydney-based non-profit Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), revealed last month that Pakistan, whose 80 per cent of agriculture depends on water from the Indus basin, is facing acute risks of water shortages since India has the ability to change the flow of the Indus River.
Under the 1960 agreement, India had consented to share the waters of the western rivers, the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, with Pakistan, while retaining control over the eastern rivers, including the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej. While New Delhi cannot completely stop or divert the flow of water, the report noted that even minor adjustments in dam operation can hit Pakistani farmers significantly.
The report went on to warn that Pakistan’s storage capacity is limited to roughly 30 days of river flow, making it vulnerable to seasonal shortages. In May, India conducted reservoir flushing at the Salal and Baglihar dams on the Chenab River. As a result, a flood-like situation erupted along the Chenab in Pakistan.
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