Pakistan on Monday reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains legally binding and cannot be unilaterally suspended, revoked or amended, amid escalating tensions with India over cross-border river waters.

Speaking at a joint press briefing in Islamabad, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan's rights under the 1960 World Bank-brokered treaty continued to enjoy international legal recognition. He stressed that water was Pakistan's "lifeline" and "red line," asserting that the country's position had gained support at international forums.

Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik warned that any attempt to restrict Pakistan's share of water threatened the country's food security, agricultural economy and livelihoods, noting that nearly half of Pakistan's population depends on agriculture. He also called for political consensus on building new dams to improve water management.

According to Dawn, Tarar said the government would host an international seminar in Islamabad on Tuesday, bringing together legal and water experts from around the world to discuss Pakistan's rights under the Indus Waters Treaty and the broader principles of international water law.

The remarks come after India reiterated that it intends to ensure "not a single drop of water" flows into Pakistan, following New Delhi's decision to place the treaty in abeyance after the 2025 Pahalgam attack. Pakistan has rejected India's move, maintaining that any attempt to alter cross-border river flows would violate international law and the treaty's provisions.

BOB Post