Blocking Indus waters will be act of war: Pakistan

Pakistan on Tuesday said India cannot unilaterally revoke the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty and that any attempt by New Delhi to block Islamabad's share of water could be seen as an act of war.

Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday told the National Assembly that Pakistan would approach the International Court of Justice if India violates the treaty.

Pakistan will not accept "aggression by India in any form" and China would get justification to block Indian water if New Delhi did the same to Islamabad, he said.

Aziz said that India is "feeling pressure" due to Pakistan's diplomatic onslaught against "human rights violation" in Jammu and Kashmir and supporting their right to self determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

He said Pakistan will "expose India" before the international community, and added that the government is preparing a comprehensive dossier on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and "Indian interference in Balochistan".

Aziz said the Indus Waters Treaty offers no unilateral exit provision or revocation, and its role is defined in the treaty in case of violation by any party.

Aziz's statement came a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review of provisions of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan and was quoted as saying that "water and blood can't flow at the same time".

New Delhi's stance comes in the wake of the September 18 terror attack on the Uri Army camp in Kashmir which left 18 Indian soldiers dead. India has blamed the attack on Pakistan-based militants and Modi has promised that the sacrifice of the soldiers will not go waste.

Pakistan's former Indus Water Commissioner Jamat Ali Shah on Monday slammed India for threatening to block the flow of water.

He expressed fears that if the treaty gets suspended then India may build up dams on Jhelum and Chenab rivers.

On the Uri attack, Aziz said that Pakistan was ready to extend all possible support for investigation into the incident but it should be conducted by an international body.

--IANS

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