Pakistan says it will take action against India if water treaty is breached

SAN FRANCSICO (Diya TV) — Pakistan on Thursday warned India it will take “appropriate action” against the country if violates the Indus Water Treaty and said it is closely monitoring the situation, amid reports that New Delhi may revisit the key water sharing accord.

“Appropriate action will be taken in line with the Treaty in case of any violation by India,” Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said at the weekly briefing.

The comments from Zakaria were delivered after India said it may revisit the state of the 56-year-old water accord. Zakaria added that India is making “desperate attempts” to divert attention from the “atrocities and human right violations” being committed in Kashmir. He said further that Pakistan are highlighting Indian brutalities in Kashmir at world fora and there has been “very substantive outcome” of these efforts but the international community remains concerned about the situation.

Responding to a question, he claimed that India violated ceasefire on the Line of Control for more than 90 times this year.

Isolating Pakistan is “ridiculous”, Zakaria said, adding that India’s “negative attitude” has been exposed which is the biggest hurdle in the way of regional development and prosperity.

He went on to term India’s treatment of Pakistan as “very disappointing and highly regrettable” as he deplored India’s decision to “use SAARC for its political ambition.”

During his comments, Zakaria also took a moment to address a report where U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was quoted as describing tensions between the two nations as a “very, very hot tinderbox,” and further offered to be a “mediator or arbitrator” of the situation.

Zakaria said that while Pakistan does not comment on media reports, it welcomed the mediation offer.

“We continue to urge our American friends including those in the administration to play their due role in resolving bilateral issues between Pakistan and India, particularly the Kashmir dispute,” he said.

“And definitely Pakistan has welcomed in the past also any role of mediation, we welcome such offers,” he added.