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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s defense minister on Monday dismissed Indian accusations of “sabre-rattling,” saying New Delhi’s claims about alleged nuclear threats by the Pakistani army chief were baseless and reflected domestic political pressures on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The comments followed a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accusing Pakistan of “sabre-rattling” and “irresponsibility” after media reports claimed Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had hinted at the possible use of nuclear weapons during a speech in Florida, framing it as a warning to New Delhi in light of recent military tensions.

Indian officials argued that such comments, if accurate, amounted to “nuclear sabre-rattling” — a term used to describe provocative or threatening language about deploying nuclear arms — and said it was particularly irresponsible to make them while abroad in a “friendly third country.”

Munir was said to have spoken at a black-tie dinner hosted by a Pakistani-origin businessman in Florida on Saturday, attended by more than 100 guests. An excerpt of his speech shared by Pakistani security officials did not contain any such remarks, while Pakistan’s foreign office said the Indian MEA’s statement was “yet another demonstration of their chronic tendency to distorting facts and twisting statements out of context.”

“This is a totally baseless thing, [they] are trying to make an issue [out of Munir’s remarks],” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said in an interview to a private news channel. “These things reflect one thing… internally, Modi has been devastated, with no reputation left.”

Asif said Modi was under intense pressure following the outcome of a four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan in May, as well as an increase in US tariffs linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude oil. 

India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors with a history of wars and border clashes, fought their deadliest battle in decades in May after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 civilians. The skirmish quickly escalated into aerial combat.

Pakistan claimed its air force used Chinese-built J-10C fighter jets to shoot down six Indian aircraft, including three French-made Rafales. Last week, Indian Air Chief A.P. Singh said his country had also downed six Pakistani jets, which Islamabad denies. 

In the interview on Monday, Asif warned that Modi’s political troubles could prompt risky military moves: “He could resort to something which is, which could, you know, amount to a war, amount to something desperate in this region.”

In its statement, the Indian MEA described “nuclear sabre-rattling” as Pakistan’s “stock-in-trade,” and said it was “regrettable that the reported remarks have been made while in a friendly third country.”

The version of Munir’s speech released by Pakistani officials read: “The (Indian) aggression has brought the region to the brink of a dangerously escalating war, where a bilateral conflict due to any miscalculation will be a grave mistake.”

Pakistan’s foreign office rejected India’s allegations as “a misleading and self-serving construct,” saying:

“Pakistan remains firmly opposed to the use or threat of use of force. India’s sabre-rattling and war mongering, whenever confronted, invite unfounded allegations bereft of rationality.”

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday said the latest award on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), rendered by Court of Arbitration, is in line with Pakistan’s interpretation of the relevant provisions of the treaty, which India has threatened to put in abeyance.

India announced in April it was putting the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, in abeyance a day after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, an allegation Islamabad denies. Pakistan has previously said the treaty has no provision for one side to unilaterally pull back and that any blocking of river water flowing to Pakistan will be considered “an act of war.”

The IWT grants Pakistan rights to the Indus basin’s western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses like hydropower, while India controls the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — for unrestricted use but must not significantly alter their flow. India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as power generation and irrigation, without storing or diverting large volumes, according to the agreement.

In a statement issued on Monday, Pakistan’s foreign office said it welcomed the award rendered by the Court of Arbitration on Aug. 8 on issues of general interpretation of the IWT, explaining the designed criteria for the new run-of-river hydropower projects to be constructed by India on the western rivers of Chenab, Jhelum and Indus. New Delhi has not yet commented on the development.

“In a significant finding, the Court has declared that India shall ‘let flow’ the waters of the western rivers for Pakistan’s unrestricted use. In that connection, the specified exceptions for generation of hydro-electric plants must conform strictly to the requirements laid down in the Treaty, rather than to what India might consider an ‘ideal’ or ‘best practices’ approach,” the foreign office statement read.

“​The Court’s findings on low-level outlets, gated spillways, intakes for the turbines, and free-board are in line with Pakistan’s interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Treaty. The Award also limits India from maximizing the pondage volume.”

The South Asian neighbors have been arguing over hydroelectric projects on the shared Indus river and its tributaries for decades, with Pakistan complaining that India’s planned hydropower dams will cut its flows.

Notably, the Court observed that the awards of a Court of Arbitration are “final and binding on the parties (India and Pakistan),” and have a controlling legal effect on subsequent Courts of Arbitration and neutral experts, according to the Pakistani foreign office.

Recognizing Pakistan’s vulnerability as the downstream riparian, the Court has further observed that the object and purpose of the Indus Waters Treaty, as it relates to the western rivers, is to de-limit the two states’ respective rights and obligations, in conjunction with mutual cooperation and effective dispute resolutions procedures. 

“The award carries special significance in the wake of India’s recent announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, and its earlier decision to boycott the proceedings of the Court of Arbitration. It is an endorsement of Pakistan’s historical stance on the afore-stated issues,” the foreign office said.

“Pakistan remains committed to full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty. It also expects India to immediately resume the normal functioning of the Treaty, and faithfully implement the award announced by the Court of Arbitration.”