Summary The event is organised to highlight the significance of the historic water-sharing agreement,
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said that water is not merely a natural resource for Pakistan but a matter of the country's survival.
Addressing a seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad on Tuesday, Tarar described the treaty as "an instrument of peace and regional stability."
The event, organised to highlight the legal and constitutional significance of the historic water-sharing agreement, was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, representatives from various countries, diplomats and other participants.
Welcoming the delegates, the information minister said it was an honour to speak at the seminar, adding that the discussion was not simply about a treaty but about the lifeline of Pakistan's 240 million people.
Tarar said the Indus Valley Civilization represents Pakistan's true identity, noting that the Indus River has nurtured one of the world's oldest civilizations for centuries.
“When we identify ourselves as Pakistanis, we ask a question as to who we are. And if you go back into history, the Indus water civilisation defines us as people. Whenever I go abroad, I always tell my counterparts that we are the people of the Indus Valley civilisation,” he said.
"Pakistan's history is, in many ways, the history of the Indus River," minister added.
Highlighting the importance of water security, Tarar said water is vital to Pakistan's survival, while agriculture remains the backbone of the national economy and the Indus River serves as its lifeline.
He added that more than six decades ago, Pakistan and India made an extraordinary decision that led to one of the world's most durable water-sharing agreements.
Tarar said that Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to peaceful relations, constructive dialogue and the faithful implementation of the agreement.
He stated that India had unilaterally suspended the treaty and stressed that Pakistan remained determined to ensure the agreement continues to remain in force. Respect for international treaties, he said, is the foundation of trust between nations and a cornerstone of global stability.
The information minister further warned that if any attempt was made to block Pakistan's water, the country's leadership was fully prepared to respond effectively. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of the Indus Waters Treaty under all circumstances.
Tarar also said that using water as a weapon would undermine regional and global peace and stability, urging that water should serve as a source of cooperation rather than conflict.
Water cannot be used as a weapon, says Indus Waters Commissioner
Indus Waters Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah said the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is not merely a legal document but a lifeline for Pakistan's 240 million people, as the country's agriculture, food security and economy are closely linked to the agreement.
Addressing the seminar, he said the treaty was designed to promote peace and reduce tensions between two nuclear-armed neighbours. He noted that it contains a comprehensive dispute resolution mechanism comprising 12 articles and requires both parties to exchange information on river flows.
Shah explained that if disputes cannot be resolved through bilateral engagement, they may be referred to a neutral expert or taken to the Court of Arbitration under Article IX of the treaty. He added that Pakistan has twice taken India's construction of disputed hydropower projects to international arbitration.
The commissioner said the Court of Arbitration had on two occasions clarified the treaty's provisions and ruled that India cannot unilaterally suspend or terminate the agreement. He added that the court had also directed India not to interfere with the natural flow of the western rivers.
Shah maintained that India's unilateral suspension of the treaty was unlawful and in violation of its obligations, continuing that New Delhi has not been implementing the agreement since August 2023. He stressed that the timely exchange of accurate river flow data is mandatory under the treaty and particularly important for Pakistan as the lower riparian state.
He said Pakistan had once again written to India a day earlier, requesting the required hydrological data. Failure to provide such information, he warned, could affect millions of people in Pakistan. Shah further said that India plans to divert the flow of the Chenab River, affecting around 1.9 million cusecs of water, and asserted that Pakistan would not allow any diversion of its allocated share.
He also termed the construction of the Chenab-Beas Link illegal, saying the treaty does not permit India to divert Chenab waters into the Beas River. Under the agreement, he added, India is obliged to allow Pakistan to inspect the project.
The Indus Waters Commissioner said Pakistan has already raised alleged violations of the treaty before the United Nations, stressing that water is intrinsically linked to human life and must never be used as a weapon.
Water flow control, not scarcity, is the real issue, says Musadik Malik
Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik said the real challenge facing Pakistan is not water scarcity or excessive river flows but the control of water, warning that manipulating water resources amounts to using them as a weapon.
Speaking at the seminar, Malik said irregular water flows had forced many farmers to abandon agriculture, adding that the consequences of disrupted river systems extend beyond Pakistan and also affect neighbouring Bangladesh.
He said water levels at the Marala Headworks fluctuate sharply, with extremely low flows one day and flood-like conditions the next due to releases from India. According to the minister, the issue is one of justice rather than the environment, as control over water flows remains the central concern.
Malik also criticised India, saying that it controls the flow of Pakistan's waters while ranking among the world's largest contributors to pollution. He further claimed that India's actions had resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries in Pakistan.
The climate change minister said the core issue is the use of water as a strategic tool by controlling river flows. He described the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty as one of the world's strongest international agreements, noting that it remained in force despite three wars between Pakistan and India. If such an agreement cannot be upheld, he said, it would undermine confidence in international treaties worldwide.
Malik maintained that no country should be allowed to hold regional or global peace hostage. He said Pakistan has approached the Court of Arbitration, which has ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be suspended or terminated unilaterally and that India cannot divert river flows allocated to Pakistan.
He added that the court has also ruled that India cannot construct water storage projects on rivers allocated to Pakistan under the treaty, alleging that New Delhi has refused to accept those decisions.
The minister warned that failure to uphold the treaty would set a dangerous precedent for lower riparian states around the world, saying the issue extends beyond Pakistan and carries global significance.
Referring to Pakistan's experience of devastating floods, Malik said the country's concerns over water are rooted in justice rather than environmental issues alone. He reiterated that agriculture remains the backbone of Pakistan's economy and depends heavily on reliable water supplies, stressing that Pakistan will not compromise on its share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty.
India's suspension of Indus Waters Treaty is illegal: Ahmer Bilal Soofi
International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi said the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India is contrary to international law, stressing that access to water, clean air and food is recognised globally as a fundamental human necessity.
Addressing the IWT seminar, Soofi said India's decision to place the treaty in abeyance had no legal basis and stated that New Delhi was attempting to link the agreement with unrelated political issues.
Referring to the Pahalgam incident, he said international law required India to formally seek Pakistan's cooperation in any investigation and share relevant information. Instead, he claimed, India chose confrontation over legal and diplomatic channels.
Soofi further said the status of Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognised dispute, adding that Pakistan has already raised India's suspension of the treaty before the United Nations. He argued that the move also violates the UN Charter.
The international law expert said every dispute between Pakistan and India has a legal dimension and called for greater dialogue between legal experts from both countries. He maintained that Pakistan remains committed to international law, while reiterating that India's decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is unlawful.
More to follow
