FO assails Amit Shah for 'weaponising water'
Listen to article
Pakistan on Saturday slammed India's Home Minister Amit Shah's "brazen disregard" for international agreements after the latter said New Delhi would never restore the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Islamabad.
"We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably," Shah said in an interview with Times of India on Saturday.
Responding to Shah's comments, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said they reflected "a brazen disregard for the sanctity of international agreements" and noted that the IWT is an apolitical agreement without provisions for unilateral action.
India put into "abeyance" its participation in the 1960 treaty, which governs the usage of the Indus river system, after 26 civilians in IIOJK were killed.
"India's illegal announcement to hold the treaty in abeyance constitutes a clear violation of international law, the provisions of the treaty itself, and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations," the Foreign Office stated.
"Such conduct sets a reckless and dangerous precedent — one that undermines the credibility of international agreements and raises serious questions about the reliability and trustworthiness of a state that openly refuses to fulfil its legal obligations."
The statement added that "weaponising water for political ends" is irresponsible and contrary to the behaviour of a responsible state. It demanded that India immediately restore the full implementation of the IWT.
"For its part, Pakistan remains firmly committed to the treaty and will take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and entitlements under it," the statement concluded.
The latest comments from Shah, the most powerful cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, have dimmed Islamabad's hopes for negotiations on the treaty in the near term.
Last month, Reuters reported that India plans to dramatically increase the water it draws from a major river that feeds Pakistani farms downstream, as part of retaliatory action.
"No, it will never be restored," Shah told The Times of India earlier today. "We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably."
The latest comments from Shah, the most powerful cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, reveal Delhi's intentions as Islamabad hopes for negotiations on the treaty in the near term.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
FO assails Amit Shah for 'weaponising water'
Listen to article Pakistan on Saturday slammed India's Home Minister Amit Shah's "brazen disregard" for international agreements after the latter said New Delhi would never restore the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Islamabad. "We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably," Shah said in an interview with Times of India on Saturday. Responding to Shah's comments, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said they reflected "a brazen disregard for the sanctity of international agreements" and noted that the IWT is an apolitical agreement without provisions for unilateral action. India put into "abeyance" its participation in the 1960 treaty, which governs the usage of the Indus river system, after 26 civilians in IIOJK were killed. "India's illegal announcement to hold the treaty in abeyance constitutes a clear violation of international law, the provisions of the treaty itself, and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations," the Foreign Office stated. "Such conduct sets a reckless and dangerous precedent — one that undermines the credibility of international agreements and raises serious questions about the reliability and trustworthiness of a state that openly refuses to fulfil its legal obligations." The statement added that "weaponising water for political ends" is irresponsible and contrary to the behaviour of a responsible state. It demanded that India immediately restore the full implementation of the IWT. "For its part, Pakistan remains firmly committed to the treaty and will take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and entitlements under it," the statement concluded. The latest comments from Shah, the most powerful cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, have dimmed Islamabad's hopes for negotiations on the treaty in the near term. Last month, Reuters reported that India plans to dramatically increase the water it draws from a major river that feeds Pakistani farms downstream, as part of retaliatory action. "No, it will never be restored," Shah told The Times of India earlier today. "We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably." The latest comments from Shah, the most powerful cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, reveal Delhi's intentions as Islamabad hopes for negotiations on the treaty in the near term.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Russia offers stakes in its Nigeria oil, gas fields
Listen to article Russia has offered Pakistan stakes in its oil and gas fields in Nigeria, a move that will help secure energy supplies and ease pressure on foreign exchange. Russian energy giant Gazprom wants Pakistan's largest oil and gas explorer – Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) – to enter into joint ventures in its overseas oil and gas exploration projects. At present, Pakistan produces 15% of crude oil locally whereas remaining needs are met through expensive imports that build pressure on foreign exchange reserves. Earlier, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) tried to explore oil and gas in Iraq but that venture did not yield any result. Now, a Pakistani delegation, led by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, which is on a visit to Russia, has informed Moscow that Pakistan is interested in getting stakes in the fields that are already being developed to avoid risks. Ali Pervaiz Malik, who had replaced former petroleum minister Musadik Malik, was keen to address issues of oil and gas sectors. OGDCL Managing Director Ahmed Hayat Lak is also part of the delegation. Sources told The Express Tribune that the petroleum minister held a meeting with the chief executive officer of Gazprom, a Russian company responsible for overseas investment in oil and gas fields. During the meeting, the CEO of Gazprom offered Pakistan's petroleum minister to form joint ventures between OGDCL and Gazprom in those fields which were being operated by the Russian company outside Pakistan and Russia. At present, Gazprom is operating in different countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Nigeria. He informed the Pakistani side that OGDCL could enter into a joint venture with Gazprom in any field. Pakistani companies including OGDCL, Mari Petroleum, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL) had also formed a joint venture with a state-owned firm of the UAE in Dubai in an offshoring block. The UAE had offered a field to Pakistani companies, which had already been developed to avoid risks and was not a new block. Sources said that the Pakistani side informed the CEO of Gazprom that it was not interested in those blocks which had not been developed so far and wanted to follow the Dubai project model. Pakistan wants to get stakes in those fields which have already been developed by Gazprom. According to sources, Gazprom offered the petroleum minister to buy stakes in a developed hydrocarbon block in Nigeria, where no risk was involved. It proposed that Gazprom, a Nigerian state-owned company and OGDCL could become partners in that field. Sources said that the Russian company would now send a proposal to OGDCL for evaluation as it would be a pure commercial deal. The Pakistani side had already offered Russia to become part of OGDCL's bid for offshore drilling in Pakistan. Officials say a joint venture with Gazprom in Nigeria will also become a base for engaging the Russian company in offshore drilling in Pakistan. OGDCL and other Pakistani companies have already reached an understanding with a Turkish firm to offer a joint bid for an offshore exploration field in Pakistan. Officials say Pakistan is also looking towards the Russian firm to become its partner in this venture. Russia has been struggling to establish a firm footing in Pakistan's energy sector for the last one decade but it has not been able to achieve success. It was also working with Pakistan to build an LNG pipeline from Karachi to Lahore for transporting imported gas. However, US sanctions on Russian firms were a key hurdle, which could not allow implementation of the project. The structure of Pakistan Gas Stream Project was changed almost six times to avoid US sanctions but nothing could provide successful. Now, Gazprom has offered Pakistan to become a partner in oil and gas fields in Nigeria. Pakistan is hopeful that this joint venture could become successful.
Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Field Marshal Asim in Turkiye amid war
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir meet Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on the sidelines of the 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. Photo: Radio Pakistan After a nearly weeklong visit to the United States, Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir on Saturday arrived in Istanbul in what seems part of Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to seek an end to the ongoing Iran-Israel war. His meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump discussed the Middle East crisis in detail and the army chief reportedly communicated Pakistan's concerns about the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The army chief, in line with Pakistan's stated position, pushed for a diplomatic solution to the conflict that has the potential to engulf the entire region. After over two-hour long meeting with the Pakistani army chief, President Trump said Pakistan knew better about Iran than most others. He also said Pakistan was not happy about "anything." Though, the US President did not elaborate, Pakistan's unhappiness stems from the fact that the Iran-Israel war has huge repercussions for the country. It is believed that Trump listened to the Pakistani military leader's opinion on the Iran-Israel war carefully and some even linked the US President's decision to delay his decision on joining Israel against Iran for two weeks to his meeting with Field Marshal Munir. The army chief's arrival in Istanbul lends credence to reports that Pakistan might be playing some role to defuse the crisis. Interestingly, the Iranian foreign minister is also in Istanbul as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Israel-Iran war. There is no clarity whether the army chief will have any meeting scheduled with the Iranian foreign minister. But observers believe that such a meeting is not ruled out given Pakistan's desire to seek an end to the conflict. Pakistan has emerged as one of the key players as it enjoys close ties with Iran while developing a close bonhomie with President Trump. Experts say Pakistan is uniquely positioned to play a role of a mediator between the US and Iran. However, others say that the US has a direct channel of communications with Iran through President Trump's special envoy on the Middle East. Pakistan, nevertheless, may be part of the multiple diplomatic channels seeking a political solution to the crisis. Meanwhile, a statement issued here by the foreign office said Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, called on the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Istanbul during his visit to attend the 51st session of OIC CFM. He was accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. During the meeting, the DPM/FM, conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, to President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, and underscored the profound importance that Pakistan accords to its enduring bilateral relations with Türkiye. Both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and diversify the longstanding brotherly cooperation between the two countries. The leaders expressed strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks in blatant violation of fundamental principles of international law; reiterated support for Iran's sovereignty, territorial integrity and its right to self-defense under the UN Charter; agreed to continue diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation; and urged the international community to play its part in restoring peace and stability in the region. Both sides emphasised the urgency of galvanizing efforts to bring an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression in Gaza and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the besieged people of Gaza. The DPM/FM congratulated President Erdogan on the Award conferred by the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum in recognition of his leadership as well as successful holding of the OIC CFM session.
