Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday made an offer for talks with India to address "longstanding issues," including the controversial Kashmir issue and increased concerns about water security, as reported by News18. But India has already rejected the offer, maintaining that the lone area of discussion with Islamabad would be Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Amid a worsening domestic water problem and diplomatic isolation overseas, Shehbaz made the offer while in Iran. Shehbaz stated that Pakistan is prepared for talks with India “to find solutions to problems, including Kashmir" during a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran.

The statement comes at a time when Pakistan is grappling with a worsening water crisis and growing global isolation. Shehbaz made the remarks during a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran, where he said that Pakistan was ready to "find solutions" through negotiations with India.

India Reaffirms Firm Stand On Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

India's reaction has been sharp and categorical. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have consistently maintained that PoK is a part of India, and any talks with Pakistan will only be around the Pakistan-occupied area. Speaking in a public rally in Deshnoke, Rajasthan, last week, Prime Minister Modi issued a warning to Pakistan to desist from propping up cross-border terrorism. “Playing with the blood of Indians will cost Pakistan dearly. This is India’s firm resolve, and no global pressure can change that,” he said.

In a stern warning, PM Modi also stated categorically that Pakistan would not be permitted to utilise even a single drop of water which should accrue to India under the Indus Waters Treaty. “India believes in tourism, while Pakistan treats terrorism as tourism. This mindset is a danger not just to us, but to the world,” he said, after unveiling developmental projects worth over ₹50,000 crore in Bikaner.

India To Fast-Track Water Projects, Increase Dam Capacity

Senior government officials have already informed Reuters that central ministries have been asked to speed up important water-infrastructure projects to help India enforce its rights on western rivers flowing into Pakistan through the Indus Waters Treaty. One of the key proposals is to double the capability of the Ranbir Canal on the Chenab River, which would allow India to draw as much as 150 cubic meters of water per second, compared to the existing 40 cubic meters, towards irrigation in Jammu and Kashmir. India is also said to be increasing its hydropower generation capacity in the Union Territory from the existing 3,360 MW to close to 12,000 MW. Internal plans pending review also involve new dams on the tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab Rivers, a historic step that could rewrite the usage paradigm of the Indus Waters Treaty.

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The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, regulates the utilisation of the Indus River system waters between Pakistan and India. Although the accord has weathered most of the bilateral tensions, India's plans to take greater control of its share of water have picked up pace after a series of terror attacks allegedly supported by groups based in Pakistan. Despite rising diplomatic tensions, Indian ministries—including External Affairs and Jal Shakti—have yet to issue formal statements on the new infrastructure push. However, the government’s actions align with its broader strategy to counter cross-border terrorism and economic instability originating from Pakistan.

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