Pakistan Slams India’s Indus Water Treaty Suspension Stunt
Staff Report:
Pakistan has slammed India’s political Stunt to suspend Indus Water Treaty which the former has termed it “ Water War”.
National Security Council (NSC) is set to take up the matter of Indian’s aggression to suspend India Water Treaty in a meeting scheduled on Thursday.
India has recently announced to suspend Indus Water Treaty.
Pakistan has termed this act as water war by India who can not suspend or revoke the agreement unilaterally.
Power Minister Owais Leghari’s also reacted over statement on India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
“India’s hasty and reckless suspension of the Indus Water Treaty is tantamount to water war, which is a cowardly, illegal act.
Every drop (of water) is our right, and we will defend it with all our might at the legal, political and international levels,” he added.
Experts said that suspension of the Indus Water Treaty was a sign of aggression and extremism by India as it cannot unilaterally suspend or revoke this legally binding agreement.Indo-Pak Commissioners Juggle with Controversial Water Dams
They said that any unilateral suspension or termination by India would cast doubt on the credibility of all agreements in the international community.
The treaty contains no provision for unilateral “suspension.” It is designed to be of indefinite duration, not tied to specific timeframes or events.
Experts say that both India and Pakistan are equally bound to follow the Indus Water Treaty.
By stopping water flows into Pakistani rivers, India would not only breach international water law but also set a dangerous precedent.
International law generally dictates that an upstream country (like India) does not have the right to block water to a downstream country (like Pakistan), irrespective of the existence of a treaty.
India could set a new example by violating the agreement at the regional level, potentially serving as a precedent in international law.
China can also follow this example as justification to block water flows into the Brahmaputra River. Therefore, this action by India could not only be detrimental to Pakistan but might also prove harmful to India itself, as nations like China will be closely observing the situation,” experts said.
The Indus Waters Treaty, established in 1960, provides provision of the mutual consent of both parties in case of any amendment.
India had also ratified Indus Water Treaty and therefore, India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty not only contravenes its established mechanisms for dispute resolution, such as the Permanent Indus Commission, impartial experts, or an arbitral tribunal, but also undermines the very spirit of the treaty.
