Philanthropist and Chairman of the Institute of Research & Reforms (IRR), Ali Rehman Malik, on Tuesday called for the continued protection of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) from political disputes. He warned that undermining the landmark water-sharing agreement could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability, water security, and long-term economic resilience.
Treaty as a Pillar of Regional Stability
In a statement, Malik described the treaty as one of the most significant international agreements in South Asia. He stressed that its enduring strength lies in keeping water, an indispensable and life-sustaining resource, outside the sphere of political confrontation between neighbouring states. The treaty was conceived to ensure that water remained insulated from geopolitical tensions, allowing millions of people to rely on a predictable and rules-based framework for the management of shared river resources.
According to Malik, preserving the credibility of such agreements is essential for maintaining stability in a region already facing multiple political, environmental, and economic challenges. “Water is not merely another bargaining tool; it is the foundation of agriculture, food security, economic stability and the livelihood of millions of people,” he said, highlighting Pakistan’s overwhelming dependence on the Indus river system for irrigation, agricultural production, and rural development.
Risks of Eroding Trust in International Agreements
Malik warned that while temporary disputes over water flows or allocations may arise from time to time, the greater danger lies in the gradual erosion of trust in long-standing international agreements. Once confidence in established resource-sharing mechanisms begins to weaken, he cautioned, restoring that trust becomes significantly more difficult than preserving it in the first place.
He observed that Pakistan’s economy is closely intertwined with the Indus Basin, which supports a substantial share of the country’s agricultural output and sustains millions of farmers across the country. The extensive irrigation network fed by the basin remains critical for the cultivation of key crops, including wheat, rice, cotton, and sugarcane, making the treaty central not only to Pakistan’s agricultural productivity but also to its food security, export earnings, and overall economic sustainability.
Strategic Importance of Water Governance
The IRR chairman noted that water governance has long been regarded as a matter of national strategic importance for Pakistan, with policymakers and experts consistently emphasizing the need to safeguard reliable water-sharing arrangements. He said any uncertainty surrounding these arrangements could have significant implications for economic planning, agricultural investment, and rural livelihoods.
Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 between Pakistan and India with the facilitation of the World Bank, Malik described it as one of the world’s most enduring examples of successful transboundary water cooperation. Despite decades of political tensions and multiple conflicts between the two countries, he said, the agreement has continued to provide an institutional framework for managing shared water resources through established legal and technical mechanisms.
Achievements of the Treaty
He emphasized that one of the treaty’s greatest achievements has been its ability to prevent water from becoming a direct source of political escalation, thereby contributing to regional predictability during periods of diplomatic strain. Protecting this institutional framework, he added, remains essential for preserving peace and preventing future disputes over critical natural resources.
Malik stressed the importance of sustained diplomatic dialogue, technical cooperation, and full respect for the institutional mechanisms established under the treaty. He argued that South Asia’s growing water security challenges—including the impacts of climate change, accelerated glacier melt, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing population pressures—require greater collaboration among regional stakeholders rather than confrontation.
Broader Repercussions Beyond Water Management
He said weakening confidence in internationally recognized agreements could create broader repercussions beyond water management by setting a precedent that undermines other regional cooperation frameworks and makes future collaboration increasingly difficult.
Reiterating his call for preserving the treaty’s integrity, Malik said the Indus Waters Treaty should not be viewed solely as a legal instrument governing river waters, but as a vital pillar supporting Pakistan’s national security, economic continuity, agricultural sustainability, and long-term regional stability. He maintained that protecting such frameworks through dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to international commitments remains indispensable for ensuring lasting peace and sustainable development across South Asia.
