Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday that the government will significantly increase the country’s water storage capacity in response to what he termed India’s attempts to weaponize water resources.

The decision follows India’s April suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in the wake of an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed the attack, which killed 26 people, on Pakistan, a claim Pakistan denies.

The IWT, signed in 1960, allocates the waters of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. Pakistan considers India’s suspension of the treaty a violation of international law and an act of war, and has challenged the move in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague.

The PCA has since ruled that India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty.Sharif, during a visit to the National Emergencies Operations Centre, emphasized that India lacks the authority to unilaterally suspend the IWT.

He stated that the government’s decision to enhance water storage capacity is a direct response to what he described as India’s “evil designs” against Pakistan. The plan involves leveraging existing projects like the Diamer Bhasha dam and others to create “non-controversial water storage capacity.”

Sharif cited a clause in the 1991 water accord between Pakistan’s provinces that supports increased water storage capacity.

He expects this capacity to be built within the next few years using domestic resources.Sharif also highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness, referencing the devastating 2022 floods and the recent Swat incident, where significant loss of life occurred. He directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to improve its early warning systems, including the use of mobile phone alerts. He also ordered a report reviewing the Swat incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The prime minister emphasized the need for collaboration with the provinces to build resilient infrastructure.