ISLAMABAD - Experts yesterday warned against the weaponisation of water as India's stance on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was criticised. The India Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) organised an international seminar titled "Weaponisation of Water: Legal and Strategic Implications of Undermining the Indus Waters Treaty" on Wednesday.
Key Speakers and Perspectives
Ahmer Bilal Soofi, former Minister of Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights, graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. Other speakers included Dr. Sofia Khanom, Research Director at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Dhaka; Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, Chairperson of the Sustainable Policy Development Institute (SDPI); Dr. Zhang Jiadong, Director of the Center for South Asian Studies and Dean of the Institute of Strategic Studies and International Security at Fudan University, Shanghai, China; and Mr. Ali Tauqeer Shaikh, Senior Consultant at the Asian Development Bank.
Legal and Strategic Implications
Addressing the gathering, Soofi stated that Article 12(4) of the IWT clearly specifies that the treaty can only be modified if both parties agree, and it cannot be abrogated or legally suspended unilaterally. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared his intentions about the fate of the IWT as soon as he assumed power in New Delhi in 2014. This intent was primarily driven by internal Indian politics and promises made during Modi's election campaign. Soofi noted that after the Pahalgam incident, there was no investigation, and India took a hasty decision to hold the treaty in 'abeyance,' giving the impression that India had been waiting for this opportunity. He highlighted that many South Asian countries, like Bangladesh, are lower riparian states, and India's tinkering with the IWT poses a direct threat to them. Besides water, the region also faces the threat of the 'Akhand Bharat' ideology, where India desires to reunite the region as one entity.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors at ISSI, said that South Asia is one of the most water-stressed regions in the world. Instead of cooperation, India chose to politicise this crucial issue. Water should have been a bridge of cooperation, but it has become a dangerous threat to peace and security. Ambassador Mahmood stressed that the IWT is not a political concession to be suspended at will. It is an international treaty, binding in law, and contains no provision for unilateral abrogation or suspension. Any attempt to alter, suspend, or undermine it unilaterally has no legal standing. Pakistan's position is principled and consistent. Pakistan remains firmly committed to the IWT and to the peaceful, lawful, and institutional resolution of all outstanding disputes. Pakistan expects India to immediately rescind its unilateral and unlawful stance and restore the full implementation of the treaty in letter and spirit. At the same time, Pakistan will continue to protect its legitimate rights and entitlements under international law and the treaty itself.
Historical Context and Current Challenges
Earlier, Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director of the India Study Centre, said that before April 2025, the IWT was described as one of the most successful and durable water-sharing agreements in modern history. However, developments over the past year have brought the treaty's future into question. India's decision to place the treaty "in abeyance" has generated serious concerns regarding regional stability, international law, and the future of transboundary water governance in South Asia. He apprised the audience of various Indian projects at different stages of completion and highlighted that India has invested more than 41,000 crore Indian rupees in various hydropower projects since holding the IWT in abeyance, fast-tracking several controversial projects.
Dr. Sofia Khanom said that contrary to general perception, Bangladesh is a water-stressed country. It is only during the monsoon season that water is abundant, but for the rest of the year, Bangladesh experiences a water shortage. Additionally, climate change has effects. There are fears that almost 20 percent of Bangladesh will be submerged by 2050. Roughly 40-60 percent of the population lacks access to safe water, and 73 percent of people living along coastal areas are forced to drink saline water. Heavy reliance on groundwater irrigation is causing depletion to alarming levels. She said that conflicts over water are increasing daily worldwide and will intensify in coming years. There is an emphasis on institution-based solutions through water diplomacy to facilitate negotiations. However, emerging powers in the Global South are reluctant to allow external actors for water diplomacy.
Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel said that the IWT is a remarkable treaty signed after nine years of negotiations. Its signing set an example worldwide, leading to 145 transboundary agreements globally. Article 9 of the treaty provides a clear path for settling disputes and differences. India has taken several steps that go against Pakistan's water rights. Hence, protecting the IWT is not only in Pakistan's interest but also in the interest of all lower riparian countries in South Asia and the world at large.
Dr. Zhang Jiadong explained the historical context of the IWT, noting that after partition, India unilaterally cut off the eastern river supply, creating a crisis in Pakistan. From 1954 to 1960, the World Bank negotiated a settlement between the two countries, and finally, the IWT was signed in 1960 with a multi-layered conflict resolution mechanism. It survived wars and was regarded as a model of water cooperation between hostile states. In 2025, the IWT was systematically eroded by India's unilateral declaration of holding the treaty in abeyance. Dr. Zhang stressed that protecting the legitimate rights and institutional resilience of downstream vulnerable parties is a shared international responsibility.
Ali Tauqeer Shaikh highlighted that instead of negotiators, engineers have been fighting Pakistan's case under the IWT. He also noted that Pakistan ignored early signs of Indian intentions regarding the IWT. India's decision to hold the IWT in abeyance did not come solely after the Pahalgam incident; after attacks on Pathankot and Uri, meetings under the IWT were cancelled by India. He said that Pakistan can obtain all information from satellites and should not depend on India for information.
