Pakistan will respond with “full spectrum of force”, including nuclear, if it is attacked or its vital water flow disrupted, Pakistan’s ambassador here warned. Muhammad Khalid Jamali made the comments during an interview with Russia’s state-run TASS news agency on Sunday. “We will use the full spectrum of force, both conventional and nuclear,” he said.

“Any attempt to usurp the water of the lower riparian, or to stop it, or to divert it would be an act of war against Pakistan and would be responded to with full force, including nuclear,” Jajamali said regarding the Indus Water Treaty. The envoy, however, urged de-escalation. “As the two countries are two nuclear powers, there is all the more need to de-escalate the tensions,” he said.