Pakistan Army Chief Rejects Indian Regional Dominance, Calls Water Treaty Suspension Red Line

Hans India

8 hours ago

Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has issued strong statements rejecting any form of Indian dominance in South Asia while declaring the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty as an unacceptable red line for his country. The military leader's remarks come in the aftermath of a recent ceasefire agreement between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following days of cross-border military confrontation.
Speaking during an educational forum with university vice-chancellors, principals, and senior educators, Munir emphasized Pakistan's unwavering stance against what he termed Indian hegemonic ambitions in the region. The army chief's comments were officially released through the Inter-Services Public Relations, Pakistan's military media wing.
Munir specifically addressed India's recent decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty, a water-sharing agreement that has governed river management between the two countries since 1960. He characterized this suspension as crossing a fundamental boundary that Pakistan would never accept, linking it directly to the survival and basic rights of Pakistan's 240 million citizens.
The treaty governs the distribution and management of six major rivers including the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. India's decision to suspend the agreement came after Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam region, prompting India's Cabinet Committee on Security under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take this unprecedented step.
India has historically not only shared water resources but also provided financial assistance to Pakistan for developing water infrastructure as part of the original treaty obligations. Anticipating Pakistan's response, New Delhi deployed seven diplomatic teams globally to explain and justify its position on the treaty suspension through what officials termed post-Operation Sindoor diplomacy.
The Pakistani army chief also addressed the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan province, where separatist rebels have intensified their campaign against Pakistani security forces. During the recent India-Pakistan military tensions, Baloch insurgents escalated their attacks, including six separate strikes against Pakistani forces in the provincial capital Quetta on a single day. The rebels also replaced Pakistani flags with their own in several areas.
Munir alleged that India was providing support to Baloch separatists, describing them as foreign-backed proxies rather than genuine local insurgents. He claimed these elements were acting on behalf of external interests, particularly India, and disputed their authentic Baloch identity.
The army chief made reference to what he described as divine assistance during Pakistan's recent military engagement with India. The conflict began when India launched Operation Sindoor in early May, conducting precision strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan responded with attempted strikes on Indian military installations over three consecutive days, prompting strong Indian retaliation before both nations agreed to a ceasefire.
The recent military confrontation and subsequent statements reflect the persistent tensions between the South Asian neighbors despite the ceasefire agreement. Both countries continue to engage in diplomatic and military posturing while addressing domestic security challenges and regional strategic concerns.
Munir's statements underscore Pakistan's determination to resist what it perceives as Indian regional dominance while highlighting critical issues like water rights and territorial disputes that continue to strain bilateral relations between the two nations.