• Says Chenab-Beas link tunnel and Salal Dam plans violate treaty, international law
• Warns action against Afghanistan will continue ‘when necessary’
• Rejects reports about FM Dar supposedly sharing information about Iran’s nuclear programme with Marco Rubio
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday said India’s move to advance the Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel Project and plans to flush silt from the Salal Dam reservoir had reinforced Pakistan’s concerns that New Delhi was seeking to “weaponise water”, while noting that no consultations had been held with Islamabad on either project.
Commenting on reports that India’s National Hydroelectric Power Corporation had invited bids for the link tunnel project, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the proposed diversion of water from the Chenab basin into the Beas system would violate both the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and broader principles of international water law.
“An inter-basin diversion of water from the Chenab into the Beas River system constitutes a grave violation not just of the IWT, but also of the law of treaties, particularly the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, as well as the broader framework of international water law, including the principles reflected in the 1997 UN Convention on Watercourses,” Mr Andrabi told a weekly media briefing.
He said India had invited bids for a project intended to transfer an estimated 1.9 million acre-feet of water annually from the Chenab River system into the Beas basin.
The project, approved by India in May, envisages the construction of an 8.7-kilometre tunnel in Himachal Pradesh to divert water from the Chandra River, an upper tributary of the Chenab, into the Beas basin.
The move on the Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel Project follows India’s unilateral suspension of the IWT in April 2025 after the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Chenab is a western river under the IWT allocated to Pakistan, while the Beas is an eastern river allocated to India. The planned diversion challenges the treaty’s framework.
The FO spokesperson also expressed concern over India’s plans for silt-flushing operations at the Salal Dam reservoir on the Chenab River in occupied Kashmir.
He added that the proposed operation would provide “water-control capability” not permissible under either the IWT or the 1978 Salal Agreement.
India has recently accelerated sediment management measures at the 690MW Salal hydropower project, including flushing operations on the pretext of restoring reservoir capacity.
Mr Andrabi said Pakistan had not been formally informed about either project.
“India has neither officially communicated nor shared any notice of these projects, nor has it sought consultations in this regard,” he said.
“These projects confirm that India seeks to weaponise water.”
The FO spokesperson warned that attempts to alter river flows carried implications extending beyond bilateral relations.
“This carries dangerous implications not only for Pakistan’s economy, but also for regional stability and international peace and security,” Mr Andrabi added.
While reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution, he cautioned that any action affecting the country’s water security would be unacceptable.
Referring to Pakistan’s rights under the IWT, he noted that the western rivers were allocated to the country for unrestricted use under the treaty and Pakistan retained all options necessary to safeguard its rights.
Calling for international attention to the issue, Mr Andrabi urged the global community to press India to reverse course.
Afghanistan tensions
Pakistan’s tensions with Afghanistan also came up during the press briefing.
Mr Andrabi was asked about remarks by the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who noted the “grave humanitarian consequences” of the recent fighting between the two neighbours and urged them to exercise restraint.
The FO spokesperson replied: “No responsible state can remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted. Therefore, we reserve the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard the lives and property of our nationals, based on the principles of necessity and as a measure of last resort.”
Iran-US peace initiative
The FO spokesperson acknowledged that efforts to sustain the US-Iran ceasefire were fraught with difficulties, warning that the situation remained fragile.
“We hope that the parties will adhere to the ceasefire understanding and that hostilities will cease,” he added.
The remarks came amid renewed tensions in the Gulf following a series of military exchanges between the US and Iran over the past week.
Mr Andrabi said recurring hostilities had complicated efforts to secure a lasting settlement.
Despite the setbacks, he added that Pakistan remained committed to its role as a facilitator.
The spokesperson also rebutted reports alleging that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar had shared intelligence regarding Iran’s nuclear programme with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during their meeting in Washington on May 29.
The allegation surfaced earlier this week after former CIA analyst Larry Johnson, citing an unnamed intelligence source, claimed that Pakistan had conveyed a purported Iranian plan to Washington during high-level contacts.
Mr Andrabi described the reports as “entirely baseless” and “speculative”, saying they appeared aimed at undermining the dialogue process.
He also welcomed Washington’s role in de-escalation efforts related to the Israel-Lebanon conflict.
Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2026
