Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Warns India of Direct Response Over Indus Waters Treaty (Video)
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif issued a stern warning to India over the ongoing suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, declaring that 'every single drop' of water is a 'red line' for Pakistan and threatening a 'direct response' if New Delhi does not alter its stance.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a fresh warning to India over the Indus Waters Treaty, declaring that every drop of Pakistan’s water is a “red line” and saying Islamabad would give a “direct response” if its water rights were threatened. His remarks came amid continuing tensions between the two countries following India’s decision to keep the treaty in abeyance, according to a report.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Says Pakistan Wants Peace
Sharif made the remarks at an event in Islamabad on the eve of Pakistan’s Independence Day. While presenting Pakistan as committed to peace and regional stability, he said its preference for peace should not be interpreted as weakness. The Pakistani prime minister warned that any challenge to Pakistan’s sovereignty or water interests would draw a strong response. Indus Water Treaty Remains Suspended in Response to Pakistan’s Continued Sponsorship of Cross-Border Terror, Says MEA.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s New Threat on Indus Waters Treaty
Shehbaz Sharif warns India over water, even as Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif said, "I declare each and every single drop of Pakistan's water is our red line. If India does not come to its senses, it will be given a direct response"
Indus… pic.twitter.com/go9ticC4QE
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) August 14, 2026
“Every single drop of Pakistan’s water is our red line,” Sharif said, according to reports of his remarks. He added that if India did not “come to its senses”, Pakistan would respond directly.
Indus Waters Treaty at Centre of Dispute
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with the World Bank’s involvement. It governs the use of the Indus river system and divides the six major rivers between the two countries. Under the agreement, the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — are allocated primarily for India’s use, while Pakistan has the principal use of the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — subject to provisions allowing certain uses by India. Battered at Home, Shehbaz Sharif Pushes Hollow Rhetoric on India's Suspension of Indus Treaty in Independence Day Address.
The treaty has survived several periods of tension and conflict between the two countries, making the current dispute particularly significant for bilateral relations.
Why India Kept the Treaty in Abeyance
India announced on April 23, 2025 that it was keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed. New Delhi linked its decision to Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has rejected India’s position and has continued to oppose the move.
The treaty dispute subsequently became part of the wider deterioration in India-Pakistan relations following the 2025 military confrontation and the ceasefire that followed.
Pakistan Warns Against Any Threat to Water Supply
Sharif’s latest remarks indicate that Islamabad continues to regard the Indus river system as a core national interest. The Pakistani prime minister accused India of unilaterally suspending the treaty and said there would be no compromise over Pakistan’s water rights. Pakistan’s government has repeatedly described any attempt to restrict its water supply as a serious national security concern.
India, meanwhile, has maintained that its decision is linked to the broader security situation and has indicated that the existing treaty framework cannot simply return to normal without changes in the relationship between the two countries.
Fresh Tensions Over a Long-Standing Agreement
Sharif’s warning comes at a time when India-Pakistan relations remain strained over security, Kashmir and water-sharing issues. The latest comments have added to the diplomatic friction surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty, with both countries maintaining sharply different positions on the agreement and its future.
For now, Sharif’s remarks signal that water remains a highly sensitive issue for Islamabad, while New Delhi’s position on the treaty continues to be linked to its concerns over cross-border terrorism and bilateral security.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2026 03:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
