Pakistan vows to defend its legitimate rights under Indus Waters Treaty
Dar also called for a resolution of the Kashmir dispute and said Pakistan would respond firmly to threats to its sovereignty.
Pakistan will firmly protect its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty and reject any move to use water as a weapon, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Margalla Dialogue 2026 in Islamabad, Dar said regional stability depends on all sides respecting their treaty obligations.
He said a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in line with UN Security Council resolutions, is essential for lasting peace in South Asia.
Dar warned that leaving the dispute unresolved keeps mistrust alive and exposes the region to repeated crises.
He pointed to Pakistan's response to what he called India's unprovoked aggression in May last year, saying it showed the country's readiness and ability to defend its sovereignty.
"We will defend our sovereignty with determination and pursue peace with equal commitment," Dar said.
Dar said terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains a serious security challenge for Pakistan.
He said Pakistan will keep protecting its people while supporting a peaceful, stable and economically integrated Afghanistan, but that Afghan territory must not be used for attacks on other countries, particularly Pakistan.
On the US-Iran conflict, Dar said Pakistan is pursuing all diplomatic efforts to restore dialogue and bring the parties back to the negotiating table.
He said the Islamabad MoU provides an important basis for further talks.
Dar said Pakistan remains committed to an equitable international order based on the UN Charter, sovereign equality, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes, and that it has used its UN Security Council membership to act on these principles.
He described the strategic partnership with China as a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign relations, and said Pakistan is keeping up engagement with the United States while strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Iran, the Gulf, Europe and Central Asia.
Dar said the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye reflects Pakistan's commitment to collective security and credible deterrence.
He said the pact is defensive, is directed against no country and is intended to support regional peace and security.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, governs how Pakistan and India share the waters of the Indus river system.
