India’s use of water as political weapon could lead to dangerous consequences: senior journalist and analyst Tahir Hassan Khan

President of the Karachi Union of Journalists, senior journalist and analyst Tahir Hassan Khan, has stated that India’s use of water as a political weapon could lead to dangerous consequences

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Feb, 2026) President of the Karachi Union of Journalists, senior journalist and analyst Tahir Hassan Khan, has stated that India’s use of water as a political weapon could lead to dangerous consequences.

Presenting his stance on reports about India’s possible withdrawal from the Indus Waters Treaty, Tahir Hassan Khan said that for the past six decades, the agreement has served as the fundamental framework for fair and effective water distribution between the two countries (Pakistan and India) and has remained an important guarantor of regional stability. He emphasized that India cannot unilaterally terminate this agreement.

He expressed these views while speaking to Associated Press of Pakistan yesterday. He said that any obstruction or interference in river flows, particularly during low-flow months, could create a serious crisis in the country for irrigation, drinking water supply, and hydropower generation.

A shortage of water or delays in its release would directly affect crops, increasing the risk of significant decline in the production of major crops such as wheat, rice, cotton, and sugarcane.

Tahir Hassan Khan further stated that under the agreement, Pakistan’s rights over the western rivers — the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — cannot be unilaterally revoked by India under any circumstances.

Tahir Hassan Khan appealed to the international community and the guarantor parties of the treaty to ensure adherence to international laws so that peace, stability, and a fair system of water distribution in the region can be maintained.