International Seminar Reaffirms Pakistan’s Legal Position on the Indus Waters Treaty

An international seminar held in Islamabad has strongly reaffirmed Pakistan’s legal position on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), with local and international experts declaring that the landmark water-sharing agreement remains legally binding and cannot be suspended or terminated through unilateral action.

The seminar included legal professionals, water policy experts, and international academics to exchange views on the importance of the Indus Waters Treaty, which considered one of the world’s most successful water-sharing treaties between two countries.

In the course of the discussions, speakers reiterated that water should not ever used as a political or strategic tool and that cooperation between the states is what international law calls for. They said the treaty has been very important for the region for decades, despite the political tensions.

Water resources experts pointed out that Pakistan’s agriculture, food security, economy and livelihoods of over 240 million people are dependent on predictable water flows under the Indus Waters Treaty. They stressed that any disruption in the water-sharing system could have dire humanitarian and economic ramifications.

Participants also underlined that any disagreements related to the treaty should resolve through its existing dispute resolution mechanisms, including the Permanent Indus Commission and international arbitration, instead of unilateral actions that could undermine the agreement.

Experts from around the world present at the seminar warned that breaking down enduring water-sharing mechanisms may undermine trust across the region and trigger threats to peace and stability in South Asia. They stressed the importance of respecting international treaties for the maintenance of confidence between neighboring countries.

The seminar ended with the conclusion that the Indus Waters Treaty is a binding international agreement and imparting integrity to it is a legal obligation and a responsibility of both countries to promote regional peace, sustainable water governance and long-term cooperation between the two nations sharing the waters of the Indus river system.