Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly criticised India’s decision to withdraw from the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a “unilateral and illegal move.” Addressing an international conference on glacier protection in Tajikistan, Sharif said the decision was deeply regrettable and should not be driven by political motives at the expense of millions of lives.
“India’s withdrawal from the treaty is a serious concern. Political interests should not override the basic rights of people. Pakistan will never accept this under any circumstances,” he stated.
India announced its decision to exit the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack, a development that has been consistently opposed by Pakistan. Sharif’s renewed remarks gain significance in the backdrop of a recent ceasefire along the Line of Control, suggesting that diplomatic tensions remain unresolved.
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Meanwhile, anti-India rallies have been reported in over 50 cities across Pakistan, including Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. These protests, led by banned outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawa and its chief Hafiz Saeed—accused mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks—have drawn widespread attention. The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League has also reportedly taken part in the demonstrations.
The visible participation of designated terrorists in these rallies has raised concerns over Pakistan’s internal narrative and its impact on regional stability.