Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday issued a stern warning that efforts to deny Pakistan its rightful share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would have grave consequences for regional peace and security. He made these remarks while addressing the International Water Symposium, organized by Pakistan’s Embassy in Austria in collaboration with the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.
Since India unilaterally suspended the IWT in April 2025 following a militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, tensions over the treaty have escalated. This suspension was followed by a brief military confrontation between the two countries in May 2025. Dar stressed in his keynote video message that Pakistan remains resolute in defending its rights under the treaty and international law, emphasizing that any attempt to withhold Pakistan’s allocated waters would destabilize the region.
Highlighting the critical importance of water for human survival, prosperity, and environmental sustainability, Dar noted that shared river systems create an inherent interdependence between countries. He posed the fundamental question of whether such waters would be managed through cooperation and legal frameworks or exploited for political leverage and conflict.
For Pakistan, water security is directly linked to food security, as the Indus River system supports over 250 million people. The river sustains agriculture, energy production, economic growth, and vital ecosystems. Dar underscored that undermining Pakistan’s water rights would have ramifications far beyond a bilateral dispute.
He recalled that the IWT, signed in 1960 after a decade of negotiations, replaced upstream discretion with binding legal commitments, ensuring predictability and stability. The treaty was designed to keep water resources insulated from political fluctuations. However, India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty in April 2025, which lacks any legal basis under the agreement, challenges this principle.
Dar referenced the unanimous ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on August 31, which reaffirmed that the IWT remains fully in force and that India must comply with its obligations, including restrictions on a hydropower project. The PCA found no justification for India’s suspension of the treaty, reinforcing the principle that agreements must be honored.
Despite this ruling, India has continued what Dar described as intransigent and illegal actions. Pakistan, in contrast, has consistently pursued dialogue, diplomacy, and dispute resolution mechanisms outlined in the treaty, including active participation in Neutral Expert proceedings administered by the PCA’s Vienna office.
Dar emphasized that Pakistan’s engagement with these institutional mechanisms reflects its confidence in international law, which depends not only on treaty formation but also on faithful implementation and respect for adjudicated decisions. He warned of the profound humanitarian, economic, and security risks posed by using water as a tool of political pressure.
He further cautioned that India’s actions could set a dangerous precedent for other transboundary river basins worldwide, undermining the international legal order. Dar called on the global community to strengthen treaty-based cooperation rather than allow its erosion, stressing the importance of principles such as equitable utilization, prevention of significant harm, and cooperation in managing shared waters.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution, Dar described cooperation over shared water resources as essential for regional peace, development, and sustainability. He outlined three key principles for progress: full implementation of the IWT in both letter and spirit; resolving disputes through treaty mechanisms and respecting their outcomes; and enhancing technical cooperation, transparency, and data sharing between the two countries.
Dar concluded by emphasizing Pakistan’s preference for cooperation over coercion, dialogue over confrontation, and adherence to the rule of law over unilateral actions. He stated that the future of transboundary water governance must be founded on mutual respect and faithful observance of international obligations, with Pakistan ready to pursue this path.
The IWT allocates the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—to India, while the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—are primarily allocated to Pakistan. The 1960 agreement also established mechanisms for data sharing and dispute resolution.
The dispute intensified when India suspended its treaty obligations in response to a terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which it blamed on Pakistan—a claim Islamabad denies. Pakistan warned that any attempt to halt its water supplies would be considered an act of war, noting that the treaty contains no provision for unilateral suspension. Islamabad also argued that India’s move violated the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
The PCA later ruled that the IWT remains fully in force and found no grounds for India’s suspension. India rejected the ruling, refusing to recognize the court despite being a member of the intergovernmental tribunal.
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