Pakistan has strongly raised the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) dispute as a major global test of water rights and international justice. Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik stated that the issue goes beyond bilateral tensions with India and affects fundamental rights of downstream nations.
Addressing a joint press conference with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar in Islamabad, Malik emphasized that Pakistan is taking the matter to international forums including the United Nations. He highlighted how water decisions should not be controlled by an upstream country, referring to statements that no water would flow into Pakistan.
The minister explained that 40 to 50 percent of Pakistan’s population depends on agriculture, which contributes 20 to 25 percent of the national economy. Food security and the livelihoods of millions are directly linked to reliable water availability from the Indus river system. He warned that if upstream countries are allowed to stop or manipulate river flows, it could set a dangerous precedent for transboundary rivers worldwide.
Malik expressed serious concerns over India’s hydropower projects, noting that even temporary water retention during critical farming periods can damage crops downstream. He stressed that Pakistan must also improve its own water management by building more storage capacity and better regulating seasonal flows through dams.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reinforced that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally. He stated that both countries have formally recognised the agreement. Tarar added that water is a matter of survival for Pakistan, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir taking a firm stance on the issue.
The government is organising an international seminar on the IWT, inviting global water experts. This seminar will focus not just on the treaty but also on broader themes of justice and the basic right to water for downstream populations.
Pakistan’s clear message is that the IWT dispute is now a test case for international justice and the protection of shared water resources across borders.
