ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday accused India of “hydro-terrorism” by suspending cooperation under the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, saying New Delhi’s move threatens regional stability and must be handled “with seriousness.”
Signed in 1960, the treaty was brokered by the World Bank and governs the distribution of waters from the Indus river system, allocating the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — primarily to Pakistan, which relies on them for most of its agriculture. The three eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — were allocated primarily to India for unrestricted use.
India announced in April 2025 it was holding the treaty in abeyance, following a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in which gunmen killed 26 people, mostly tourists. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants.
Islamabad denied the allegation and called for a credible, international probe into it.
In recent months, Pakistani officials have said that they have witnessed unusual fluctuations in river flows, while Islamabad previously said any obstruction of Pakistan’s water would be considered an “act of war” and it would not let New Delhi restrict the flow of Indus waters.
“The unilateral and illegal attempt by the Indians to suspend Indus Waters Treaty amounts to hydro-terrorism,” President Zardari said at a ceremony, marking the first anniversary of a four-day military conflict between the two neighbors.
“Water is a life for millions of our citizens and by belated violations of the international laws, [India] endangers regional stability and [the issue] must be addressed with seriousness.”
Pakistan and India fought an intense, four-day conflict last year, following the Pahalgam attack. The standoff saw the neighbors attack each other with drones, artillery, missiles and fighter jets before the United States (US) brokered a ceasefire on May 10, 2025.
Speaking further at the ceremony, Zardari called for an end to “Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan through Afghanistan.”
“Afghanistan should not allow its soil to be used for terrorism in Pakistan and other neighboring countries,” the president said.
His statement came hours after a suicide blast killed 15 policemen in the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province that borders Afghanistan. There was no immediate response to the statement by Afghanistan and India.
Pakistan, which has seen a surge in militancy in recent years, accuses Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil and India of backing militant groups for cross-border attacks against it. Kabul and New Delhi deny this.
