ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has firmly rejected India’s assertion of placing the1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, declaring that such a unilateral moveholds no legal standing under international law. The Pakistani Commissionerfor Indus Waters, Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah, emphasised that the treatyremains fully operational, safeguarding Pakistan’s rights to the westernrivers. This stance comes amid heightened concerns over potentialdisruptions to water flows essential for the country’s agriculture andeconomy.
The controversy reignited in April 2025 when India announced the treaty’ssuspension following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which NewDelhi attributed to Pakistan without substantiated evidence. Pakistan viewsthis as an alarming attempt to weaponise water resources, warning that anyreduction in flows would constitute an act of war. The treaty, brokered bythe World Bank, has historically endured wars and diplomatic crises betweenthe two nations.
Shah highlighted that the term “abeyance” is not recognised in treaty law,requiring mutual consent for any suspension or termination. He noted threeinstances since April 2025 where India allegedly manipulated flows on theChenab, Jhelum, and Indus rivers, though natural patterns have largelypersisted. These episodes, occurring twice in May and once in December,underscore Pakistan’s vigilance in monitoring compliance.
The Indus Waters Treaty allocates the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, andSutlej—exclusively to India, while granting Pakistan primary rights to thewestern rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—with limited non-consumptive usespermitted for India, such as hydropower generation. Pakistan argues thatIndia’s ongoing hydroelectric projects, including Kiru and Kwar, raiseobjections under the treaty’s design-sharing provisions prior to theabeyance claim.
In June 2025, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that India cannotunilaterally suspend the treaty, reaffirming its jurisdiction over disputeslike Kishanganga and Ratle projects. Although India rejected this asinvalid, the decision bolstered Pakistan’s position that the agreementbinds both parties irrevocably. Pakistan continues to pursue diplomatic andlegal avenues to protect its water security.
Water from the Indus basin sustains over 80 percent of Pakistan’s irrigatedagriculture, vital for food production and employing millions. Anyinterference risks exacerbating vulnerabilities in a nation alreadygrappling with climate-induced floods and droughts. Shah stressed thetreaty’s design to withstand political tensions through structured disputeresolution mechanisms.
Historically, India halted flows in 1948, prompting Pakistan’s protests atthe United Nations, leading to the 1960 accord. Violations, such as thosealleged with the Salar Dam, were resolved bilaterally. Currentdevelopments, including India’s approvals for new projects like DulhastiStage-II on the Chenab, heighten suspicions of exploiting the abeyanceclaim.
Read Top Stories
Pakistan remains committed to peaceful resolution but insists on upholdingthe treaty’s integrity. Officials warn that unilateral actions setdangerous precedents in international water law, potentially affectingriparian states globally. The World Bank’s procedural role in disputesunderscores the agreement’s enduring framework.
As tensions persist, Pakistan calls for renewed cooperation under thePermanent Indus Commission. With no fixed volumetric allocation butreliance on natural flows, any deviation threatens existentialconsequences. Islamabad’s reaffirmation signals resolve to defend legalrights amid evolving regional dynamics.
Source:https://www.dawn.com/news/1965075
Tags: Pakistan, India, Indus Waters Treaty, Permanent Court of Arbitration
ogimageimage-name
