ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - China's prominent foreign affairs expert and Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization, Dr Victor Gao, on Tuesday strongly criticised India's stance on the Indus river system, saying that preventing the flow of water to millions of people amounts to a "war crime" and is contrary to international law and humanitarian principles.
Addressing an international seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty in Islamabad, Dr Gao described India's approach towards Pakistan regarding shared river waters as fundamentally unjust and urged that the issue be viewed through the lens of international law and human rights.
He said it was an honour to participate in the seminar, which brought together experts and policymakers to discuss the future of transboundary water management and regional cooperation.
Referring to developments over the past year, Dr Gao said India had repeatedly threatened to stop the flow of rivers that enter Pakistan. He specifically mentioned statements made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicating that "not even a single drop" of Indus water would be allowed to flow into Pakistan.
According to Dr Gao, such rhetoric raises serious humanitarian concerns because water is a basic necessity for life and millions of people rely on the Indus river system for drinking water, agriculture, and economic activity.
He said denying water to civilian populations cannot be justified under any circumstances and warned that using water as a political or strategic tool undermines regional peace and stability.
The Chinese scholar recalled that he had previously expressed similar views during an interview with an Indian television channel, where he argued that threatening to block water supplies constitutes a crime against humanity.
He maintained that access to water is a universal human right and should never become an instrument of political pressure between neighbouring countries.
Dr Gao also appealed to India to follow the principle of treating others as it would expect to be treated itself.
"One should not do to others what one would not want done to oneself," he remarked, urging both countries to pursue dialogue and mutual respect rather than confrontation.
Speaking about the broader legal implications, Dr Gao said India's conduct regarding the Indus river system runs contrary to the principles of justice and fairness governing international rivers.
He stressed that disputes over shared water resources should be resolved in accordance with international law, treaty obligations and humanitarian considerations instead of unilateral actions.