DPM Dar warns India’s Indus reservoir expansion may fuel ‘hydro-hegemony’

BRUSSELS: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday expressed concern over India’s reservoir expansion and water diversion projects on the Indus River system, warning that such measures could alter natural river flows, foster “hydro-hegemony” and pose serious risks to regional stability and water security.

Addressing a conference on transboundary water resources in Brussels, Dar said Pakistan’s concerns were based not only on Indian statements but also on developments taking place under the Indus River system.

“It is important to underscore that our concerns are not merely based on Indian statements,” he said, adding that India had pursued multiple projects involving reservoirs, expansion of existing structures and river diversion schemes on the Indus, Chenab and Ravi rivers.

According to the deputy prime minister, at least 17 such projects could significantly alter the river system and provide India with what he described as the tools for “hydro-hegemony”.

Pakistan has consistently maintained that any attempt to alter the flow of cross-border rivers would be regarded as an act of war, while insisting that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remains legally binding and cannot be unilaterally suspended.

The treaty governs the sharing of waters from six rivers originating in India and flowing into Pakistan, providing a framework that has remained in place despite decades of conflict between the two countries.

India announced in May 2025 that it was suspending its participation in the treaty after accusing Pakistan of supporting an attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, an allegation Islamabad has repeatedly rejected.

Addressing the conference, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, describing the Indus Waters Treaty as a durable framework that had survived multiple conflicts over the decades.

He said Pakistan had consistently pursued its concerns through recognised international legal mechanisms and respected decisions even when they did not fully align with its expectations.

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“Responsible states act within established legal frameworks rather than abandoning them,” he said.

The deputy prime minister described rivers as lifelines with historical, cultural and economic importance, warning that denying populations access to water could have far-reaching humanitarian and security consequences.

“Water must never be viewed as an instrument of coercion,” Dar said, calling for transboundary water governance to be based on cooperation, dialogue and respect for international law.

He stressed that the issue extended beyond South Asia, arguing that adherence to international treaties was essential for global stability and prosperity.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s position, Dar said the country remained committed to resolving disputes through diplomacy, dialogue and international legal mechanisms, adding that lasting solutions could only emerge through cooperation and respect for mutually agreed obligations.

He also noted that although Pakistan contributes less than one per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and urged greater international cooperation to address growing water-related challenges.