The Ministry of External Affairs rejected Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks on the Indus river system
June 23, 2026: India on Tuesday strongly rejected comments made by Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had warned that Islamabad could consider military action if it believed India’s actions on the Indus river system threatened Pakistan’s water security. Responding to the remarks, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India viewed the statements as baseless and politically motivated.
Addressing the media in New Delhi, Jaiswal said Pakistan was attempting to shift focus away from its own internal challenges by making what he described as “fabricated claims.” He asserted that the allegations deserved outright rejection and accused Islamabad of trying to divert international attention from governance failures and its human rights record.
The MEA also raised concerns about the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), alleging that local residents have faced economic exploitation, denial of rights and administrative repression for years. Jaiswal further claimed that authorities had responded to protests with internet shutdowns, restrictions on essential supplies and force against civilians. The remarks came after Asif, during an interview with ARY News, linked Pakistan’s water security concerns to national security and warned of possible action if access to Indus basin waters was threatened.