Pakistan Hosts International Indus Waters Treaty Conference to Defend Water Rights Against India

Pakistan is hosting an international conference on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) today to strengthen its legal and diplomatic position against India’s unilateral suspension of the historic water-sharing agreement.

The daylong conference, “Indus Waters Treaty as an Enduring Legal and Institutional Framework,” has been attended by Pakistani and international experts in water resources, international law and regional security issues, in order to discuss the legal significance of the treaty and Pakistan’s rights under it.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is likely to deliver the keynote address, while the Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik and other federal cabinet ministers are also expected to speak at the event.

Pakistan Reaffirms Its Water Rights

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the conference is set to inform local and international media of Pakistan’s legal rights regarding the Indus Waters Treaty in relation to the rivers.

He said it was the first international seminar of its kind to draw attention to Pakistan’s water rights and Indus River system’s legal regime.

The government has said that the presence of international experts is a testament to Pakistan’s legal position and the need to respect international treaties on the shared water body.

Pakistan Rejects India’s Suspension of the Treaty

The conference is being held amid growing tensions as India earlier announced in April 2025 that it was putting the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty “in abeyance” after accusing Pakistan of being behind a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Pakistan has staunchly denied the allegations and argued that India has no legal mandate to unilaterally withdraw from the treaty that was brokered by the World Bank. Islamabad has repeatedly said any move to change or annul the agreement is against the international law and the treaty’s binding part.

Indus Waters Treaty Remains Vital for Regional Stability

Signed in 1960 with the mediation of the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty regulates the sharing of the Indus River system between Pakistan and India. The agreement has been in effect for over 60 years, and has endured wars and extended periods of political unrest.

Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns regarding Indian constructions of dams, hydroelectric dams, and water diversion schemes on the rivers mentioned in the treaty, which it says pose a threat to the water security of Pakistan and breaches its rights under the treaty.

The government has also reiterated its determination to go after diplomatic, legal and international platforms to protect Pakistan’s water rights and promote the complete implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty.