Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s statement has reinforced Pakistan’s principled position that India cannot unilaterally suspend or disregard the Indus Waters Treaty whenever political circumstances become inconvenient.
The treaty is a binding international agreement, and its continued validity is not a matter of political choice but a question of legal obligation, regional stability and the rights of millions of people dependent on the Indus river system.
India placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam attack and linked its decision to allegations against Pakistan. However, instead of resolving the matter through a transparent and impartial investigation, New Delhi used the water agreement as a political and strategic instrument.
Such an approach risks turning water, one of the most essential resources for human life, into a tool of pressure between two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The Court of Arbitration’s decision that the treaty remains fully in force has strengthened Pakistan’s legal position. The ruling reaffirmed that the agreement contains no provision allowing either side to suspend it unilaterally.
It also made clear that one party’s political decision cannot remove the court’s authority or cancel the obligations created under the treaty.
A victory for treaty-based international law
Pakistan’s position is based on more than diplomatic rhetoric. Islamabad is defending the principle that international agreements must be respected, particularly when they regulate resources essential to the survival and economic well-being of entire populations.
The Indus Waters Treaty was negotiated with international assistance and has remained functional through wars, crises and decades of hostility. Its survival demonstrated that even India and Pakistan could maintain limited cooperation despite their broader disputes.
For Pakistan, the western rivers are directly linked to agriculture, food security, hydropower, industry and the daily lives of millions of citizens. Any attempt to obstruct the treaty’s procedures, limit information-sharing or interfere with established water rights can create serious humanitarian and economic risks.
Pakistan cannot accept a situation in which its water security becomes dependent on India’s political calculations.
India’s rejection of the arbitration ruling has created a dangerous contradiction. New Delhi seeks the benefits of international agreements when they serve its interests, yet rejects legal mechanisms when their conclusions are unfavourable.
No country should be allowed to choose which international obligations it will follow and which it will disregard. Such conduct weakens confidence in international law and threatens other agreements around the world.
Pakistan’s response must remain firm, lawful and diplomatic. Islamabad should continue presenting its case before the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and other international forums. It should demand implementation of the arbitration ruling, restoration of treaty-based communication and the continuation of established mechanisms for resolving water-related disagreements.
At the same time, Pakistan’s strongest argument is the rule of law. Islamabad should continue demonstrating that it seeks compliance, transparency and peaceful dispute resolution rather than confrontation.
The international community should recognise that undermining the Indus Waters Treaty could have consequences far beyond bilateral relations, affecting regional peace, food security and the stability of South Asia.
The treaty is not a favour granted by one country to another. It is a binding agreement that defines rights and responsibilities for both sides. India cannot place it in abeyance through a unilateral announcement, just as Pakistan cannot rewrite its terms independently.
Pakistan’s legal and diplomatic position has been strengthened, but continued vigilance is necessary. The next step should be sustained international pressure for compliance, not escalation. The Indus Waters Treaty must remain a shield for regional stability rather than becoming another weapon in the India–Pakistan conflict.
Pakistan has stood on the side of international law, treaty obligations and peaceful dispute resolution. India must now recognise that water cannot be used to erase agreements, punish populations or avoid legal responsibility.
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