Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said that Pakistan has exclusive rights over three western rivers in light of Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and warned that any attempt by India to divert water flow of the rivers will be considered as 'provocation.' The foreign minister stated this in a statement after chairing an important meeting with regard to Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's threatening statement to stop Pakistan's water.

The meeting was attended by senior officers from relevant departments, security institutions and senior officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Qureshi warned India that Pakistan would be right in giving a befitting response if any attempt is made to divert the water flow of the three revivers on which Pakistan has exclusive right in light of the IWT. He also called upon the international community to open their eyes in wake of the provocative statements from India to deprive Pakistan of its share of water under the IWT. "The harsh stance of the Modi government and its hate-driven policies are a clear threat to the peace in South Asia and the entire world," he added.

Modi last week threatened to stop Pakistan's water by diverting it to Haryana, saying that he has already started work on it. "For 70 years, water that belonged to Haryana's farmers and to us flowed to Pakistan... But this Modi will stop that water and bring it to your house. I have already started working on it.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019