Pakistan Army Chief Rejects Indian ‘Hegemony’, Calls Indus Water Treaty a Red Line

Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has declared that Islamabad will “never accept Indian hegemony” in the South Asian region, days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following a brief but tense military standoff.

In comments made during an interaction with vice-chancellors, educators, and senior teachers, Munir also warned that Pakistan would not compromise on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), describing it as directly tied to the fundamental rights of Pakistan’s 240 million citizens.

“Water is Pakistan's red line, and we will not allow any compromise on this basic right,” Munir stated, reacting to India’s recent move to suspend the IWT. The remarks were reported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

India suspended the Indus Water Treaty on May 8, a day after 26 Indian civilians, including tourists, were killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir—an incident linked to Pakistan-based militant groups. The decision marked the first such suspension since the treaty's inception in 1960.

The treaty, which governs the sharing of waters from the Indus river system, has long been regarded as a rare symbol of India-Pakistan cooperation, even during times of political and military strain. India’s decision to suspend it came after the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reviewed the security implications of the Pahalgam attack.

Munir’s remarks underscore Pakistan’s sharp response to the suspension and reflect renewed geopolitical strain in the region, despite a brief cessation of hostilities earlier this month.