Pakistan Denounces India’s Unilateral IWT Suspension
Pakistan’s denouncement of India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) highlights serious concerns regarding “resource-based coercion” in international relations. The move was strongly articulated by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, during his address to the UN Security Council (UNSC). He raised an alarm over what he termed the “deliberate weaponisation of shared natural resources,” citing the IWT suspension as a critical example.
For over six decades, the 1960 Indus Water Treaty has stood as an international model of cooperation, ensuring equitable water sharing between Pakistan and India, even amidst periods of conflict. Ambassador Ahmad stressed that India’s “unlawful unilateral decision” fundamentally undermines the spirit of this vital agreement. It threatens fragile ecosystems, disrupts crucial data sharing, and endangers millions reliant on the Indus Water System for their sustenance and energy security.
Addressing Resource-Based Coercion
Pakistan firmly asserts that such actions weaken confidence in international water law and establish an alarming precedent for “resource-based coercion” globally. Ambassador Ahmad emphasized that no provision within the IWT permits its unilateral suspension or modification. Pakistan consistently advocates for full compliance with the treaty and a swift return to normal functioning through established diplomatic channels. SindhNews.com has also extensively covered these developments.
The 1960 IWT allocates three western-flowing rivers to Pakistan and three eastern-flowing rivers to India. Amidst rising tensions, Pakistan initiated a case with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague in 2023, challenging the design of Indian hydropower projects on its allocated rivers. In April, India unilaterally held the IWT in abeyance following an attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam, an incident New Delhi attributed to Islamabad without providing verifiable evidence. Pakistan has since warned that any attempt to suspend its water share would be considered “an act of war.”
The PCA has since issued significant rulings on the matter. In June, the court issued a “Supplemental Award of Competence,” definitively stating that India cannot unilaterally hold the treaty in abeyance. A subsequent August ruling affirmed the court’s jurisdiction over the dispute. It further clarified that India’s hydropower projects on Western Rivers must “strictly” adhere to the treaty’s specifications and generally “let flow” the waters for Pakistan’s unrestricted use.
Adding to Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic efforts, Ambassador Ahmad also highlighted the intrinsic link between environmental degradation and security. He urged concerted international measures to integrate environmental considerations into conflict prevention and peacekeeping frameworks, aiming to transform shared natural resources into instruments of cooperation rather than division.
President Asif Ali Zardari recently reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering stance, asserting that any violation of the Indus Water Treaty cannot, and will not, succeed. Pakistan’s consistent denouncement of the unilateral suspension and its pursuit of international arbitration underline its firm resolve against the “weaponization of water,” reinforcing the critical importance of adhering to international law for regional stability and resource security.