Water Is Life, Not a Weapon”: Pakistan Urges Compliance With Indus Waters Treaty treanding

Pakistan Condemns India’s Indus Waters Treaty Stance, Warns Against Weaponisation of Water; Calls for Global Water Covenant

ISLAMABAD: (Mudassar Iqbal/News Desk) – Political leadership, legal experts, diplomats, and policy analysts on Tuesday strongly condemned India’s unilateral decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, warning that such actions threaten the foundations of international law and could escalate strategic tensions in South Asia.

The remarks were made at an international seminar titled “Indus Waters Treaty: An Instrument of Peace and Regional Stability” jointly organised by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Speakers at the event included federal ministers, former diplomats, military officials, international scholars, and legal experts who collectively described the treaty as one of the most important and durable transboundary water agreements in modern history.

Concerns Over Treaty Suspension and Water Data Disruption

Participants warned that India’s alleged suspension of hydrological data sharing and inspection mechanisms under the treaty, alongside reported changes in river flows, could destabilise regional water security. They described such actions as “weaponisation of water” and a serious threat to downstream populations.

Speakers argued that the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 under World Bank auspices, remains a legally binding international agreement that cannot be suspended, amended, or revoked unilaterally. They stressed that the treaty has survived wars and decades of political tensions, serving as a rare example of sustained cooperation between two adversarial neighbours.

Experts further noted that over 80 percent of Pakistan’s arable land depends on the Indus Basin system, making water predictability essential for agriculture, food security, disaster preparedness, and economic stability. They cautioned that disruption in data flows or river regulation mechanisms could endanger livelihoods of over 240 million people.

Senior Leadership Warns Against Escalation

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said India’s alleged unilateral move undermines the international legal system and risks regional conflict. He stressed that Pakistan had consistently upheld the treaty in good faith, even during periods of war and political hostility.

He reiterated that transboundary rivers should serve as instruments of cooperation rather than conflict and warned that weakening treaty frameworks could damage global confidence in international law.

“The sanctity of treaties is the foundation of peaceful relations among nations,” Dar said, adding that Pakistan would safeguard its water rights through all available legal and diplomatic means.

Dar Warns India Pushing Hydro-Hegemony on Indus Rivers

Dar cautioned that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its rightful share of water under the treaty would have “profound consequences for regional peace and security.” He also referenced Pakistan’s National Security Committee stance that any diversion or reduction in water flows could be treated as an act of war.

Water as Identity and Survival

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the Indus River is deeply tied to Pakistan’s identity and civilisation, describing water as not merely a resource but a matter of life and survival.

He said Pakistan’s history is rooted in the Indus Valley Civilisation and emphasised that over 240 million people depend directly on the river system. He described the Indus Basin as the backbone of agriculture and national sustenance.

Tarar said international agreements such as the Indus Waters Treaty represent the principles of “pacta sunt servanda” — the obligation of states to honour their commitments. He warned that unilateral actions undermining treaties weaken global stability and trust.

He added that Pakistan remains committed to peaceful engagement but will defend its rights firmly. “If any attempt is made to stop Pakistan’s water, we will respond effectively,” he said, while reaffirming preference for dialogue and diplomacy.

Climate Change and Water Justice

Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik linked the water dispute to broader global climate challenges, arguing that the issue is not only environmental but also one of justice.

He highlighted the human cost of climate disasters through examples of farmers displaced by repeated flooding, particularly in Pakistan and other vulnerable regions. Malik said millions globally face similar conditions, including communities in Africa, South Asia, and river basins such as the Nile, Mekong, and Aral Sea regions.

He argued that water insecurity arises not only from scarcity or flooding but from external control over water flows. “The danger is that someone else controls the tap through which your water flows,” he said.

Malik stressed that around half of Pakistan’s population depends on agriculture, which in turn relies on Indus waters. He said the crisis must therefore be understood as a structural issue of justice, livelihoods, and sovereignty.

He further warned that climate change is intensifying water variability, citing glacier melt and extreme weather patterns. According to him, recent decades have already caused widespread displacement, loss of livelihoods, and disruption of education.

Global Legal and Strategic Implications

Former ministers, legal experts, and international participants at the seminar argued that India’s alleged actions could set a dangerous precedent for transboundary water governance worldwide.

Former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar noted that treaty mechanisms already exist for dispute resolution and must be respected. Former Law Minister Ahmer Bilal Soofi stated that international rivers constitute “global commons” and no country can claim absolute control over them.

International experts echoed concerns. A Russian academic praised the treaty’s durability, while a US-based policy expert argued that withholding hydrological data violates customary international law. A Chinese scholar went further, describing unilateral suspension of the treaty as a serious violation of international norms.

Speakers collectively warned that undermining such agreements could weaken the global rules-based order and encourage similar disputes in other shared river systems.

Call for International Water Governance Framework

Several speakers called for a new international legal framework on transboundary water governance. Federal Minister Musadik Malik urged the creation of a binding global covenant with enforceable political, diplomatic, and economic consequences to regulate shared water resources.

He argued that existing international mechanisms are insufficient, as water disputes are often treated as secondary to trade or security issues despite their direct impact on human survival.

Malik called on the global community to move beyond non-binding declarations and establish enforceable rules for water sharing, warning that failure to act would endanger billions worldwide.

Conclusion: Water as a Bridge, Not a Weapon

Concluding the seminar, Institute of Regional Studies President Ambassador Jauhar Saleem said lasting peace in South Asia depends on respect for international law, transparency, and cooperation.

He emphasised that water must be seen as a bridge between nations rather than a source of conflict. Predictability, trust, and institutional respect, he said, are essential for long-term regional stability.

Speakers unanimously reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty remains central to peace in South Asia and urged all parties to uphold it in both letter and spirit. They warned that any attempt to politicise or weaponise water could have far-reaching consequences beyond the region, affecting global stability and the future of international treaty systems.