ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) Pakistan’s firm response to India’s threat to stop water

ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) Pakistan has warned India in two words that any attempt to terminate the Indus Waters Treaty or back down from it will be illegal, unilateral and completely against international law.
To a question from senior Pakistani analyst Asghar Ali Mubarak that experts at the seminar, including the World Bank and others, raised the point that China should be a key part of it and should be a partner in the Indus Waters Treaty. Since most of the rivers originate from there, what is Pakistan doing in this regard?
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi clarified that water cannot be used as a weapon of political pressure or to force anyone. The spokesperson referred to the seminar held in the past few days and clarified that no country in the world has the courage or ability to stop Pakistan’s water and make it barren. Any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its share of water will prove to be extremely dangerous for the peace and tranquility of the entire region, which can have serious consequences. The Foreign Office spokesperson, referring to the important statement of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, said that any so-called attempt by India to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty is illegal, unilateral and baseless, which Pakistan strongly rejects and Pakistan will not compromise on its water rights. Tahir Andrabi, expressing deep concern over the Indian mindset, added that the real problem is the attitude of the Indian leadership under which they are considering water as an asset that they can stop, divert or control whenever they want. According to him, this mindset of grabbing it at will is not only against this old water treaty but also against international law. He said that obstructing the supply of water would be a violation of India’s international commitments, which will damage its reputation worldwide. During the same briefing, the spokesperson announced that the Prime Minister would visit Iran and Turkey from July 3 to 5. He said that the Prime Minister will leave for his visit and will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other important ministers of the federal cabinet. According to Tahir Andrabi, the Prime Minister will go to Iran and attend the funeral prayers of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei there and will reiterate Pakistan’s full solidarity and support with Iran in this hour of grief. After this, the Prime Minister will go to Istanbul on the special invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where he will address a major business conference. Tahir Andrabi finally mentioned the US-Iran talks in Qatar and said that the two countries have agreed to continue the talks and the next meeting will be after the burial of the former Supreme Leader of Iran. The Foreign Office spokesperson, while explaining the steps taken after the recent terrorist attacks in the country, said that the security forces have intensified operations against terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Karachi, including other areas, based on intelligence. In this regard, on June 28, four terrorists were killed in a major operation in Bajaur, including Khan Frosh Abdul Zabal, a top commander of the banned organization TTP, while the remaining three terrorists belonged to the Indian-backed Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. The spokesperson has categorically stated that no compromise will be made on the safety of citizens and national security. According to spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, taking the next major step on this issue, on June 29, the Afghan Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office of Pakistan and a strong protest letter, or demarche, was given to the Afghan authorities over the terrorist attack in Karachi. Similarly, the Pakistani ambassador in Kabul also presented this protest letter to the Afghan Foreign Ministry. The spokesperson said that this strong step has been taken on the basis that the involvement of Afghan citizens in terrorism in Pakistan has been clearly revealed and one Afghan attacker has also been captured alive. He said that all evidence has proven that Afghan soil is being used for terrorism against Pakistan. In view of this situation, the Ministry of Interior has issued an order to take immediate action against Afghan citizens living in Pakistan illegally and to arrest any Afghan citizen living without a visa or legal documents.