Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir asserted on Thursday that water is Pakistan’s “red line”, emphasising that Islamabad will not tolerate any threat to this basic right of its 240 million citizens.

 

New Delhi unilaterally suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 people dead.

 

India blamed Pakistan for the terror incident, but has not provided any evidence to support its claims.

 

India also threatened to block Pakistan’s share of water under the treaty. However, Islamabad has maintained that any attempt to block or divert its allocated water will be considered “an act of war.”

 

Pakistan’s position on the matter remains firm. Earlier this month, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned during a television appearance that Pakistan would strike down against any structure built to block the flow of water in violation of the IWT.

 

“If they attempt to construct such a structure, we will strike and destroy it,” the defence minister stated.
“Aggression is not only carried out through artillery shells or gunfire. It has many forms and phases. [Stopping the water] is also a phase of aggression. Such actions can lead nations to die from hunger and thirst,” he asserted.

 

Speaking at the Army Auditorium, during an interaction with participants of ‘Hilal Talks’, the field marshal clarified that Pakistan would never accept India’s hegemony.

 

"Educators are the biggest asset of Pakistan. What I am today is because of my parents and teachers. Educators bear the responsibility to build the character of Pakistan's future generations. You (educators) must pass on Pakistan's story to the next generations," he said.

 

Field Marshal Munir also asserted that Pakistan would never compromise on Kashmir, emphasising that India must understand Pakistan will neither forget nor abandon the issue.

 

He underscored that it is no longer possible for New Delhi to suppress the Kashmir dispute as it is a global issue.

 

The field marshal rejected India’s accusations of terrorism against Pakistan, stating that terrorism is an internal issue for India, driven primarily by increasing oppression and discrimination against minorities, especially Muslims.

 

He highlighted that India backed terrorists of “Fitnah-al-Hindustan” in Balochistan, noting that they have no connection with Balochs.

 

COAS Field Marshal called for Pakistan to be made a strong state where all institutions work under the law and Constitution without any political pressure, financial and personal gains, or for the welfare of the people.