Days after the Chief of the Pakistan Army, Field Marshal Asim Munir, issued a nuclear threat towards India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cautioned on Tuesday that any effort to obstruct water flow into Pakistan would constitute a breach of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and would provoke a “decisive response.”

While addressing an event in Islamabad, Sharif proclaimed, “The enemy cannot take even a single drop of water from Pakistan. You have threatened to halt our water supply—if you attempt it, Pakistan will ensure you learn a lesson you will never forget.” He emphasized that water is essential for Pakistan’s survival and promised no concessions regarding the nation’s rights under international treaties, as reports.

Earlier this week in Tampa, Florida, Munir informed members of the Pakistani community that any decrease in water flow would result in the destruction of Indian infrastructure. He also issued a nuclear warning: “We are a nuclear nation. If we believe we are going down, we will take half the world down with us.”

In response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April that resulted in 26 fatalities, India has suspended the IWT until Pakistan credibly and permanently ceases its support for cross-border terrorism.

The Indus Waters Treaty, which was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations facilitated by the World Bank, is considered one of the most resilient water-sharing agreements globally. It designates the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—to Pakistan, and the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—to India, while allowing each party limited rights over the rivers of the other. India is allocated 20% of the Indus system’s waters, whereas Pakistan receives the remaining 80%.

Despite enduring decades of conflict, the treaty has largely persisted, although it has faced criticism in India for being excessively lenient towards Pakistan, even as the latter continues to support terrorism. The IWT also gained attention following the 2019 Pulwama attack.