ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday warned that Pakistan would respond effectively to any attempt to stop or divert its share of water under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, describing water as a matter of national survival.
Addressing an international seminar on the treaty in Islamabad, Tarar said Pakistan remained committed to preserving the agreement and reiterated that any changes to it could only be made through mutual consent. He said using water as a weapon would undermine regional and international peace and stability.
The minister said the Indus Waters Treaty is one of the world’s longest-standing water-sharing agreements and emphasised that Pakistan’s agriculture and economy depend heavily on the Indus River system.
India placed the treaty in abeyance following the April 2025 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, accusing Pakistan of involvement. Islamabad rejected the allegation.
Speaking at the seminar, Russian expert Dr. Roxolana Zigon said any attempt to deny Pakistan its water share would violate international law, arguing that the treaty contains no provision for unilateral withdrawal. She said the agreement has enabled water cooperation between the two countries for more than six decades despite political tensions.
Zigon warned that upstream dam construction and the use of water as a political tool could increase regional instability. She also described the Permanent Indus Commission as a key mechanism for resolving disputes and stressed the importance of preserving the treaty for regional peace.