Pakistan hosted an international conference in Islamabad, arguing the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be unilaterally suspended, bringing legal experts together to debate the agreement’s future.
WEBDESK – UzGul – MEDIABITES
Pakistan has stepped up its diplomatic campaign over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), hosting an international conference in Islamabad that argued the 1960 agreement cannot be unilaterally suspended by either signatory.
The daylong event, titled “Indus Waters Treaty as an Enduring Legal and Institutional Framework,” brought together government officials, international legal experts and water specialists to discuss the treaty’s legal status following India’s decision to place it “in abeyance” in 2025.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar warned that any attempt to interfere with Pakistan’s water rights could have serious regional consequences. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the gathering as the country’s first international seminar dedicated solely to the treaty, while Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik also addressed participants.
Conference Focuses on International Law
Speakers at the conference argued that the dispute should be viewed primarily through the lens of international law rather than political tensions.
They maintained that the World Bank-brokered treaty contains no clause allowing either India or Pakistan to suspend the agreement through a unilateral announcement.
According to participants, the treaty has survived decades of political instability, including the 1965 and 1971 wars and the Kargil conflict, making it one of the world’s longest-standing water-sharing agreements.
Experts said its institutional framework was specifically designed to keep water cooperation separate from broader diplomatic disputes.
India’s 2025 Decision Remains at the Centre of Debate
The renewed discussion follows India’s announcement in April 2025 that it was placing the treaty “in abeyance” after a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, an allegation Islamabad has consistently denied.
The conference heard that Pakistan maintains no international tribunal or independent investigation has publicly concluded that the Pakistani state was responsible for the incident.
Officials argued that security-related disputes should not automatically affect a treaty governing shared water resources.
Legal Arguments Dominate the Discussion
A major theme throughout the conference was Article XII of the treaty, which outlines how changes to the agreement can be made.
Legal experts participating in the event said the article requires both countries to approve any amendment through a mutually ratified agreement and does not explicitly provide for unilateral suspension.
Several speakers also referred to existing dispute-resolution mechanisms within the treaty, including the Permanent Indus Commission, the Neutral Expert process and the Court of Arbitration.
According to conference participants, these institutions were established to resolve disagreements without undermining the treaty itself.
Previous Water Disputes Revisited
The discussion also revisited disagreements over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects.
Participants noted that India sought treaty modifications in 2023 while Pakistan simultaneously pursued arbitration under mechanisms already provided in the agreement.
Conference speakers argued this demonstrated that established legal channels remain available for resolving technical and engineering disputes without suspending the broader framework.
They said international legal institutions should continue playing their intended role whenever disagreements arise.
Pakistan Highlights Human and Economic Concerns
Government representatives emphasized the importance of the Indus river system to Pakistan’s economy and food security.
Officials said the river network supports the country’s agricultural sector and provides water to millions of people living across Punjab and Sindh.
They argued that any disruption to water-sharing arrangements could have significant humanitarian and economic consequences extending well beyond bilateral politics.
The conference stressed that water security should remain insulated from regional security disputes.
Experts Point to Global Water Diplomacy
Several international scholars attending the conference described the Indus Waters Treaty as a widely studied example of successful water diplomacy.
They argued that the treaty’s strength lies in its permanent institutions, which were created to manage disagreements peacefully rather than prevent disputes altogether.
Participants said maintaining confidence in those institutions remains essential for preserving long-term cooperation over shared rivers.
Many speakers warned that weakening treaty-based mechanisms could set wider precedents for international water agreements around the world.
A River With Shared Historical Roots
Speakers also reflected on the historical significance of the Indus River, noting that its name predates the creation of both modern India and Pakistan.
They said the river has shaped civilizations for thousands of years and has long been central to the region’s cultural and geographic identity.
According to participants, that shared history reinforces the importance of cooperative management instead of unilateral action.
Pakistan says it will continue raising the issue through diplomatic and legal channels while advocating adherence to the treaty’s existing provisions.
India has maintained that changing security circumstances require a reassessment of the agreement, although discussions over its future continue at both legal and diplomatic levels.
With regional tensions remaining high, the future of one of the world’s most significant transboundary water agreements is expected to remain an important issue for South Asia and the wider international community.
