Pakistan has asserted that India is not permitted to misuse its allowance of water from the western rivers, as defined by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), especially with India's recent approval of a new hydropower project on the Chenab River. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi addressed the situation during a press briefing, responding to queries about India's approval of the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project in Kashmir.

Andrabi stated that Pakistan has expressed serious concerns regarding India's plans to construct the Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric project on the Chenab River, as no prior information or notification was shared with Pakistan, which is required under the Indus Waters Treaty. He emphasized that any project on the western rivers is subject to strict design and operational controls, along with mandatory information sharing with Pakistan.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the distribution and use of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. The treaty allocates the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) largely to Pakistan, with a limited allowance for India to use water from the western rivers for purposes such as power generation.

Andrabi reiterated that the IWT remains a binding international agreement, a sentiment reinforced by the Court of Arbitration in June and August 2025, which upheld the treaty's validity and made its compliance mandatory for both parties. Pakistan has stated its commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes with India but maintains that it will never compromise on its water rights.

The spokesperson also highlighted that the Pakistani commissioner for Indus water has sought clarification from his counterpart in India regarding the nature, scope, and technical details of the reported projects. Pakistan is seeking to ascertain whether the Dulhasti Stage-II project constitutes a new run-of-the-river project, an alteration or additional work on an existing plant, or involves any form of storage work that would affect downstream water flows.

Some reports suggest that India's actions, including the approval of hydropower projects like Sawalkote and Dulhasti Stage-II, signal its intent to fully leverage its water resources and assert control over rivers allocated to Pakistan under the treaty. There are concerns that India is attempting to influence the flow of water in the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, potentially weaponizing water as a strategic tool.

In light of these developments, Pakistan has urged India to return to treaty compliance and respond to the queries raised by the Pakistani Indus Water Commissioner. Pakistan has also consistently supported China on matters of its core interests, including Taiwan, and reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China principle.

In addition to the concerns surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan and India exchanged lists of their nuclear installations, as required under the 1988 Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities. This exchange is a routine practice carried out on January 1st of each year.