Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Tuesday criticized India for using water as a tool of pressure and stressed that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is still fully active.He pointed out that India’s decision to put the treaty on hold has no legal foundation.

Speaking at the “International Water Symposium” in Vienna via a video message, Senator Dar said that rivers shared between countries should support peace and teamwork, not force and control.

The symposium was organized by the Pakistan Embassy in Austria, working with the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.
It brought together diplomats, scholars, and experts to talk about water safety and international teamwork, with a special session on managing rivers across borders, water rights, and international law.A news release from the DPM’s office shared this.

Senator Dar mentioned that India placed the treaty on hold in April 2025, even though the treaty itself doesn’t allow either side to stop or suspend it.
He highlighted the unanimous ruling from the Court of Arbitration on August 31, 2026, which reviewed India’s claims, such as a serious violation, major changes, war, and countermeasures.The court found none of these justified stopping or ending the treaty.

He stated the court clearly confirmed the treaty is still fully in effect and that India must follow its rules, especially those about designing and running hydroelectric projects on the Western Rivers.
He described this as a strong reaffirmation of the legal principle that agreements must be honored.

Senator Dar also noted that on the same day the court issued an order about the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant.
It limited the completion of some parts of the project until 90 days after the Neutral Expert’s final decision and required India to share details on the project’s schedule.

He said that even though these court rulings support Pakistan’s position and reject India’s actions, India continues its firm stance and illegal actions toward the treaty.

He stressed the importance of the Indus system, which supports the lives and work of over 250 million Pakistanis, helping in farming, food supply, electricity, and economic growth.
He said for Pakistan, water safety is closely linked to food, economic, and national security.

He warned that using water to pressure such a large population would cause serious human, economic, and security issues.
He also said India’s actions could set a dangerous example for other shared river systems where millions rely on following international agreements.

Senator Dar said Pakistan has always tried to solve differences through talks, diplomacy, and the treaty’s dispute solutions.
Pakistan is also taking part in the Neutral Expert process, which is run by the Vienna Office of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hofburg Palace.It is working well with the process.

He outlined three main points: the treaty must be respected and followed properly, its obligations can’t be tied to political ties or one-sided choices, and all issues and disputes should be resolved through the treaty’s own methods, and those decisions must be followed.
Both countries should improve technical work, sharing data and being open.

He emphasized the role of the international community in upholding international law and teamwork based on treaties.
He said that while the world order based on international law faces challenges, the community should strengthen treaty-based cooperation rather than allow it to weaken.

He repeated Pakistan’s position: “Our choice is always cooperation, not pressure, and dialogue, not conflict, and the rule of law, not unilateral action.”

He also made it clear that there should be no confusion about Pakistan’s determination to protect its rightful water rights under the treaty and international law.
He warned that any attempt to take away water that is rightfully Pakistan’s would have serious effects on regional peace and safety.

The deputy prime minister wished the symposium productive discussions and hoped it would help build stronger international cooperation on water management.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new process for including taxpayers in the Active Taxpayers List (ATL), enabling certain individuals who submit their latest income tax returns after the due date to be added without having to pay a surcharge.

As per the documents released by the FBR, the tax authority has presented a draft of additional amendments to the Income Tax Rules, 2002, which suggest modifications to the current process for being included in the ATL.

According to the proposed procedure, an individual who files their income tax return for the most recent tax year after the prescribed or extended deadline may be eligible for inclusion in the ATL without having to pay the applicable surcharge, provided they meet specific conditions.

The proposed mechanism requires the taxpayer to submit an undertaking via the Iris system using the prescribed ATL Form under sub-section (3) of Section 182A of the Income Tax Ordinance.

As stated in the draft, a person who files the latest tax year’s income tax return after the due or extended date and submits the necessary undertaking through Iris might have their name added to the ATL without the need to pay the surcharge.

The proposed changes are intended to offer a pathway for taxpayers who miss the filing deadline but later complete their tax return and fulfill the required declarations.

The FBR has invited input and suggestions from stakeholders on the proposed amendments.
Any feedback can be submitted to the board within seven days of the notification being published in the official Gazette.

These amendments are part of the FBR’s ongoing efforts to review and improve tax administration processes and provide clearer guidelines regarding the status of taxpayers who file returns after the statutory or extended deadline.

The Active Taxpayers List plays a significant role in Pakistan’s tax system, as being on the ATL can influence the withholding tax rates applicable to individuals and businesses on various transactions.

However, the final process will be determined by the amendments that are approved and officially communicated by the FBR after considering the feedback received from stakeholders.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has commended Pakistan for its “pivotal role” in helping to bring the United States and Iran into dialogue.During a visit to Islamabad on Tuesday, alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Guterres highlighted how Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts have created a conducive environment for discussions between Washington and Tehran.

He emphasized that Pakistan’s active involvement is central to maintaining international peace and security, and praised the country’s leadership in brokering talks between the two nations.

Guterres acknowledged Pakistan’s contribution to achieving the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, the subsequent ceasefire, and a framework for future negotiations.
He stated, “Every Pakistani should be proud of that pivotal role.”

During a press conference in Islamabad, the UN chief directly urged all parties to stop hostilities and refocus on diplomatic solutions.
He called for an end to the conflict, a return to diplomacy, and the restoration of navigational rights in line with international law.

He also connected regional peace with the situation in Palestine, noting that lasting peace cannot be achieved until the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is recognized.
Pakistan has consistently supported this recognition.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ishaq Dar met with Guterres to discuss regional and global issues affecting peace and security, as reported by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The discussion included topics such as Palestine, Jammu and Kashmir, Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, and the future of multilateralism.