Pakistan declares water rights of 240 million non-negotiable

Pakistan has said the Indus Waters Treaty is indispensable for the survival of its 240 million people, reaffirming that its water rights are non-negotiable and will be protected under international law amid growing concerns over regional water security.

On Tuesday, Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding its water rights under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), saying the treaty is not merely a bilateral agreement but a lifeline for 240 million people whose livelihoods, agriculture, economy and national security depend on uninterrupted access to water.

The message came at an international seminar titled "Indus Waters Treaty: A Key Instrument for Peace and Regional Stability," organized by the government of Pakistan in Islamabad. The seminar was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar; Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization Dr. Victor Gao; Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari; Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar; Defence Minister Khawaja Asif; Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik; Pakistan's Indus Waters Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah; former Federal Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan; international law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi; and delegates and water experts from several countries.

Addressing the seminar, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said sabotaging international river treaties could carry extremely serious consequences and warned that attempts to stop the flow of rivers set a dangerous precedent in international relations.

He emphasized that water is not merely a natural resource but the foundation of human dignity, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. Water, he said, does not recognize political boundaries but sustains human life.

Dar said failure to honor international commitments undermines trust and cooperation among nations while weakening the rules-based international order on which global peace and security depend. He said South Asia already faces numerous challenges, making respect for international treaties and international law more essential than ever. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the Indus Waters Treaty was concluded after years of lengthy negotiations to ensure the optimal and equitable use of available water resources.

He reiterated that Pakistan remains firmly committed to peace, dialogue and good neighbourly relations while believing in adherence to international law, treaty obligations and respect for internationally recognized water rights.

Dar categorically stated that Pakistan would never accept any illegal occupation or encroachment upon its legitimate water resources and would continue safeguarding its rights and interests through international law and diplomatic channels.

Recalling developments following India's suspension of the treaty, Dar said Pakistan's National Security Committee had decided that any attempt to divert, stop or reduce Pakistan's share of water would be treated as an act of war.

He said the decision reflected complete national unity and reaffirmed Pakistan's determination to defend its water rights. Dar added that Pakistan has consistently played a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the region and has always sought to reduce tensions and encourage dialogue.

Center for China and Globalization Vice President Dr. Victor Gao described any attempt to stop water flowing to millions of people as a war crime and said India's approach toward the Indus river system was fundamentally unjust.

Speaking at the seminar, Gao said it was an honour to participate in the important international forum. He stated that about a year ago India began threatening to stop the rivers flowing into Pakistan, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly declared that not a single drop of the Indus River would be allowed to reach Pakistan. Dr. Gao said he had made it clear during an interview with an Indian television channel that threatening to block water amounts to a crime against humanity. Addressing India directly, he said no country should treat others in a manner it would not accept for itself. He added that India's conduct regarding the Indus river system violated the principles of justice and should be viewed from the perspective of humanitarian values and international law.

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said water is not merely a geographical issue but a matter of food security, future generations and human survival. He said the international community has come to realize that water resources have become a central issue in global politics and international security. Bilawal observed that, just as any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz affects the global economy, the waters of the Indus River are a guarantee of Pakistan's survival. He warned that using sea routes or water resources as political weapons represents a dangerous trend that threatens international peace. Bilawal maintained that sustainable peace between Pakistan and India would not be possible without restoring the Indus Waters Treaty. He said Pakistan had honoured the ceasefire agreement while India had failed to fully uphold its commitments. He stressed that Pakistan's share of water under the treaty must be fully protected, noting that the Indus River is not merely a river but the source of life, agriculture and economic activity for millions of Pakistanis.

Bilawal said Pakistan's rights over the waters of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers are recognized under international agreements and should not be viewed as merely a technical dispute but as a matter of national security. He declared that every attempt to undermine Pakistan's water rights would receive a national response, adding that while Pakistan seeks peace, it would never compromise on the fundamental rights and water interests of its people.

Bilawal said the entire Pakistani nation stands united in protecting the water rights of millions and that using water as political pressure or a weapon violates international law and treaty obligations. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the people of Pakistan have an undeniable right over the waters of the Indus river system and warned that any attempt by India to obstruct those waters would receive a strong response. Welcoming delegates to the seminar, Tarar said it was an honour to address a gathering focused on an agreement that serves as a key instrument for peace and regional stability.

He stressed that the discussion was not about a treaty alone but about the lifeline of 240 million Pakistanis. Tarar said the Indus Valley Civilization represents Pakistan's true identity and that the Indus River has nurtured one of the world's oldest civilizations for thousands of years. He said Pakistan's history is inseparable from the history of the Indus River, which has sustained generations from Gilgit-Baltistan through Punjab and Sindh.

The minister emphasized that water is not merely a natural resource for Pakistan but an issue of national survival. He said every available means would be employed to protect the waters of the Indus River, describing agriculture as the backbone of Pakistan's economy and the Indus River as its lifeline. Tarar recalled that nearly six decades ago the two countries reached an extraordinary agreement that resulted in one of the world's most enduring water-sharing treaties.

He said the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty occupies a unique place in international relations and noted that Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to peaceful engagement, constructive dialogue and sincere implementation of the treaty. The Information Minister said India had unilaterally suspended the treaty but Pakistan remained determined to preserve it. He emphasized that respect for international agreements forms the foundation of trust among nations and the stability of the international system. Tarar warned that Pakistan's national leadership is fully determined to respond effectively to any attempt to stop water flows.

He reaffirmed that Pakistan would protect the sanctity of the Indus Waters Treaty under all circumstances and cautioned that using water as a weapon would undermine both regional and global peace and stability. He concluded by saying that water should become a source of cooperation rather than conflict.

International policy expert and author Laurie A. Watkins described the Indus Waters Treaty as one of the greatest achievements of international diplomacy, stressing that no country can free itself from its international legal obligations simply by announcing the suspension of a treaty.

Addressing the seminar, Watkins said it was a privilege to speak on the important subject, adding that the treaty had functioned effectively for more than six decades despite being designed to address one of the world's most complex transboundary water disputes.

She said river treaties around the world are negotiated to prevent conflicts rather than create them. Referring to Pakistan's communications with India over the flow of the Chenab River, she said those letters represented far more than administrative or technical correspondence and raised significant legal issues.

Watkins observed that analysis of international river systems demonstrates that disputes over water can become highly dangerous if not addressed through agreed legal mechanisms. She further stated that India had rejected decisions made by international judicial forums.

Referring to the Vienna Convention, Watkins said international agreements must be implemented in good faith. She described the Permanent Indus Commission as an exceptional institution operating according to internationally accepted standards.

She noted that the treaty provides a step-by-step dispute resolution mechanism, including joint inspections and institutional procedures, warning that interruption of hydrological data sharing breeds mistrust, miscalculation and ultimately regional tension. According to Watkins, the real strength of any international water treaty lies in continuous communication and effective cooperation between the parties.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik said the central issue was neither water scarcity nor excessive flows but control over water resources. He stated that water shortages had forced farmers to abandon agriculture and warned that the consequences extended beyond Pakistan to affect people in Bangladesh as well.

Dr. Malik referred to fluctuations in water flows at Marala Headworks, saying that on some days India released very little water while on others it allowed flood-like flows. He argued that the matter was not environmental but one of justice because control over water flows had become the fundamental issue.

The minister further alleged that India not only controlled Pakistan's water flows but was also the world's third-largest contributor to pollution. Dr. Malik said India's actions had resulted in the deaths of 6,000 people and injuries to thousands more, adding that such casualties exceeded those seen in many wars. He stressed that the real issue was the use of water control as a weapon. Calling the Indus Waters Treaty one of the strongest agreements in the world, he noted that it had survived three wars between the neighbouring countries. "If this strongest treaty cannot survive, then no international agreement anywhere in the world can remain secure," he remarked.

The minister said no single country should be allowed to hold regional and international peace hostage. He stated that Pakistan had already approached the Court of Arbitration, which had clearly ruled that no country could unilaterally suspend or terminate the treaty.

According to Dr. Malik, the court had also ruled that India could not unilaterally divert Pakistan's water or construct water storage facilities on Pakistan's allocated rivers under the treaty. He said India had refused to accept the decisions of the Court of Arbitration.

"If this agreement fails, every upstream country in the world may begin blocking water meant for downstream states," he warned. Dr. Malik emphasized that the issue therefore extended beyond Pakistan and had global implications. Recalling Pakistan's devastating floods, he maintained that the issue was one of justice rather than climate alone.

He concluded by saying Pakistan had made it clear that it would never compromise on its share of water, which remains essential for the country's agriculture and livelihoods. Pakistan's Commissioner for the Indus Waters Treaty, Syed Mehr Ali Shah, described the treaty as far more than a legal document, saying it was directly linked to the lives of 240 million Pakistanis, the country's agriculture, food security and economy.

He said the treaty also served as an important instrument for reducing tensions and promoting peace between two nuclear-armed neighbours. Shah explained that the treaty contains a comprehensive dispute resolution mechanism consisting of twelve articles. He noted that the agreement obliges both parties to exchange information regarding river flows. He said disputes unresolved bilaterally could be referred to neutral experts and, under Article IX of the treaty, to the Court of Arbitration.

Pakistan, he noted, had twice approached arbitration regarding disputed Indian hydropower projects. The commissioner said the Court of Arbitration had twice clarified that India could neither unilaterally suspend nor terminate the treaty. He added that the court had also directed India not to interfere with the natural flow of the western rivers.

Shah described India's continued unilateral suspension of the treaty as entirely illegal and contrary to its obligations. According to him, India has not been implementing the treaty since August 2023. He stressed that timely exchange of river flow data is mandatory under the agreement and particularly important for Pakistan as the lower riparian state.

Shah revealed that Pakistan had written to India again only a day earlier requesting hydrological data. He warned that failure to provide accurate river information could affect the lives of millions of Pakistanis. The commissioner further alleged that India was planning to divert the Chenab River in a move that could affect water flows of approximately 1.9 million acre-feet.

He said Pakistan could never allow diversion of its allocated share of water. Shah also termed India's construction of the Chenab-Beas Link illegal under the treaty, stating that India could not transfer Chenab waters into the Beas River and remained obligated to allow Pakistan to inspect the project.

He said Pakistan had already taken India's alleged treaty violations to the United Nations, emphasizing that water is directly linked to human survival and must never be used as a weapon. Russian international affairs expert Dr. Roxolana Zygon expressed serious concern over India's water policy, alleging that India was attempting to use water as a weapon.

She described the Indus Waters Treaty as the foundation for equitable water distribution in the region. According to Dr. Zygon, construction of dams in India's upper riparian areas could increase regional instability.

She stated that the treaty contains no provision permitting unilateral withdrawal and argued that cooperation over water remains essential for regional peace and stability. Dr. Zygon also noted that Pakistan's 21 major hydropower projects are linked to the Indus river system.

Former federal minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said India was using water as a weapon and noted that the Indian leadership had publicly declared that Pakistan would not receive even a single drop of water.

Addressing the seminar, he said India had unilaterally kept the Indus Waters Treaty suspended since April 2025 and had continued violating its provisions throughout 2025. He alleged that India had repeatedly released large volumes of water into the eastern rivers without prior notification, affecting nearly 7.3 million Pakistanis. Khurram Dastgir said India was deliberately withholding water before releasing it in flood-like conditions, causing repeated losses to Pakistan.

He maintained that access to water is recognized internationally as a fundamental human right and recalled that the Court of Arbitration had ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty could not be unilaterally suspended.

Referring to the Geneva Conventions, he said water cannot be withheld or linked to other disputes, adding that depriving large populations of water and exposing them to food insecurity constitutes an international crime. He accused India of knowingly endangering the lives of 240 million Pakistanis and depriving downstream populations in Sindh of their rightful share of water.

Khurram Dastgir emphasized that the rivers covered under the Indus Waters Treaty are directly connected with Pakistan's survival and centuries-old civilization. He urged the international community to prevent the use of water as a weapon, saying the rivers are linked not only to human life but also to a civilization that dates back thousands of years.

He concluded by stating that Pakistan would safeguard both its share of water and its civilization under all circumstances. He also praised Pakistan's armed forces for successfully defending the country in four wars and said Pakistan would continue raising the issue of water being used as a weapon at every regional and international forum.

International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi said water, air and food have universally been recognized as basic human necessities, adding that India's decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in a so-called "abeyance" was entirely illegal. He said India was attempting to link the treaty with unrelated political issues.

Referring to the Pahalgam incident, Soofi stated that under international law India was required to communicate with Pakistan in writing and cooperate in investigations instead of escalating tensions. He said India had chosen confrontation instead of pursuing available legal mechanisms.

Soofi described Jammu and Kashmir as an internationally recognized dispute and noted that Pakistan had already raised India's suspension of the treaty before the United Nations. He argued that India's actions also violated the UN Charter.

According to Soofi, every issue between Pakistan and India carries a legal dimension, making dialogue between legal experts from both countries essential. He reiterated that Pakistan remains fully committed to international law while India's attempt to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in a suspended state has no legal basis.

Former President of the National Defence University Lt. Gen. (R) Amir Riaz said the Indus river system supplies water to one of the world's largest irrigation networks, with the greater part of that system located in Pakistan.

He said the Indus basin remains the foundation of Pakistan's agriculture, economy and energy security, making it indispensable for the country's development and prosperity. He stressed that any attempt to stop Pakistan's water would constitute a direct attack on the country's fundamental national interests. According to Amir Riaz, international principles do not permit an upstream country to block water destined for a downstream state.

Recalling the historical background of the treaty, he said the dispute originated in April 1948, when India illegally stopped the flow of eastern rivers into Pakistan. Those rivers, he noted, irrigated vast agricultural lands in Punjab through an extensive canal system. He said India's decision to stop water flows triggered formal negotiations that continued for nearly ten years.

The negotiations involved international experts and the World Bank, ultimately leading to the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty. It is pertinent to mention here that throughout the seminar, Pakistani political leaders, ministers, legal experts, international scholars and foreign delegates unanimously emphasized that the Indus Waters Treaty remains a cornerstone of regional peace, international law and water security.

Speakers consistently maintained that the treaty is indispensable for the survival, agriculture, economy and food security of 240 million Pakistanis, warning that attempts to suspend, violate or undermine it could threaten regional stability and weaken the international rules-based order.

Participants stressed that water should remain a source of cooperation rather than conflict and urged strict adherence to international law, treaty obligations and established dispute-resolution mechanisms to preserve peace and stability in South Asia.