Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday strongly criticised Pakistan for “reckless, war-mongering and hateful” comments from its leadership against New Delhi, and warned that any misadventure would
be dealt with “painful consequences.”
While addressing the weekly press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that it is the well-known modus operandi of Islamabad to rant anti-India rhetoric again and again.
“We have seen reports regarding a continuing pattern of reckless, war-mongering, and hateful comments from Pakistani leadership against India. It is a well-known modus operandi of the Pakistani leadership to whip up anti-India rhetoric time and again to hide their own failures,” he said as quoted by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Pakistani leadership’s comments against India, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We have seen reports regarding a continuing pattern of reckless, war-mongering and hateful comments from Pakistani leadership against India. It is a well-known modus… pic.twitter.com/YlmHhIo7lV
— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2025
Jaiswal further warned Islamabad to temper its rhetoric as any misadventure will have painful consequences.
Further responding to a question regarding the award by the Court of Arbitration under the Indus Waters Treaty, Jaiswal said that India never accepted the legality, legitimacy, or competence of the so-called ‘Court of Arbitration.’
“Its pronouncements are therefore without jurisdiction, devoid of legal standing, and have no bearing on India’s rights of utilisation of waters. India also categorically rejects Pakistan’s selective and misleading references to the so-called “award”. The Indus Waters Treaty stands in abeyance by a sovereign decision of the Government of India,” he added.
#WATCH | Delhi | On a question by ANI regarding the award by the Court of Arbitration under the Indus Water Treaty, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “India has never accepted the legality, legitimacy, or competence of the so-called Court of Arbitration. Its pronouncements… pic.twitter.com/cx8zdrAtYN
— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2025
The MEA’s response came after Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, threatened India for keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack.
While addressing an event in Islamabad on Tuesday, Sharif said, “I want to tell the enemy today that if you threaten to hold our water, then keep this in mind — you cannot snatch even one drop of Pakistan.”
He warned that if India tried, “you will again be taught such a lesson that you will be left holding your ears.”
A day earlier, former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called the suspension of the IWT an attack on the Indus Valley Civilisation, warning that the country would not back down if pushed into war.
Before that, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir reportedly said Islamabad would destroy any dam if India cut off water flow. “We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it,” Dawn quoted him as saying.
“The Indus River is not the Indians’ family property. We have no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river.”
While addresing an event in Florida during his visit to the US, he threatened India, warning that Islamabad would plunge the region into nuclear war and could take “almost half of the world” down if faced with an existential threat in a future conflict with New Delhi.
On several occasions, Munir has blamed India without any evidence for the recent tensions in the region in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. After the Pahalgam attack, the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan were downgraded with New Delhi announcing several punitive measures, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, and expulsion of its military attaches.
India and Pakistan exchanged cross-border hostilities for four days after the former launched Operation Sindoor against terror camps in the neighbouring country. New Delhi struck several air bases and dealt a crushing blow to the Islamabad Army’s capabilities, while also effectively repelling missile and drone attacks.
(With inputs from agencies)
