Information Minister Attaullah Tarar firmly stated on Monday that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan cannot be unilaterally revoked or modified. He emphasized that Pakistan holds a legitimate claim to the Indus river system under this legally binding agreement, which remains in effect despite recent tensions.
Speaking alongside Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik at a joint press conference in Islamabad, Tarar highlighted that the treaty provides a clear and enforceable framework that has been implemented consistently on the ground. His comments come amid escalating disputes over water sharing following India’s unilateral decision last year to suspend the treaty after a brief military conflict in May 2025.
India has since declared its intention to block all water flow into Pakistan, a move Pakistan has condemned as tantamount to an act of war. Tarar noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir have repeatedly described water as both a lifeline and a red line for Pakistan.
In a significant development, Tarar announced that a seminar would be held in Islamabad on Tuesday to raise global awareness about Pakistan’s rights under the IWT. The event will feature water and legal experts from around the world, aiming to strengthen Pakistan’s narrative internationally. He described this as a victory for Pakistan in shaping the global discourse on the issue.
Following Tarar, Musadik Malik underscored the broader consequences of any disruption to water supplies, attributing the crisis to both climate change and India’s actions. He stressed that 40 to 50 percent of Pakistan’s population depends on agriculture, which contributes 20 to 25 percent of the national economy. Malik warned that attempts to control Pakistan’s water resources threaten the country’s food security, employment, and economic stability.
He questioned the legitimacy of upper riparian states unilaterally cutting off water to lower riparians, pointing out that even where treaties do not exist, international conventions generally ensure continued water flow. Both ministers reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing justice and asserting its rights at the upcoming seminar, while expressing hope for political consensus on building dams to better manage water resources.
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, allocates the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—to India, while the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—are primarily assigned to Pakistan. Although the treaty has endured multiple conflicts, it has come under severe strain since India’s 2025 suspension.
Pakistan has obtained favorable rulings from the Permanent Court of Arbitration, including restrictions on India’s ability to suspend the treaty and limitations on pondage at projects such as Ratle and Kishenganga. Recent reports of India planning to divert water from the Chenab to the Beas have been strongly condemned by Islamabad as violations of both the treaty and international law.
