Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting AttaullahTarar says respect for Indus Waters Treaty essential to regional stability

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said respect for the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was essential to regional peace and stability, stressing that international agreements could not be amended, revoked, suspended or held in abeyance unilaterally

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jun, 2026) Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said respect for the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was essential to regional peace and stability, stressing that international agreements could not be amended, revoked, suspended or held in abeyance unilaterally.

Addressing the inaugral session of international seminar titled "Indus Waters Treaty: An Instrument of Peace and Regional Stability," the minister said the event was not merely about discussing a treaty but about the lifeline of more than 240 million people of Pakistan.

He said Pakistan's identity was deeply connected with the Indus River and the Indus Valley Civilization, adding that wherever he travelled abroad, he introduced Pakistanis as the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. He said the country's history and identity were rooted along the banks and tributaries of the mighty River Indus.

Describing water as life, Tarar said the Indus had given life to Pakistan and that the country's 240 million people had an inalienable right to its waters.

He emphasized that for Pakistan, water was not simply a resource but a matter of life itself.

The minister said the Indus river system had nurtured one of the world's oldest civilizations for thousands of years, connecting people from the towering peaks of Gilgit-Baltistan to the fertile plains of Punjab and Sindh across geography and history. "The story of Pakistan is, in many ways, the story of the Indus," he said.

Referring to the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, he said the agreement occupied a unique place in international relations. Signed under the auspices of the World Bank, he said, the treaty had endured wars, political upheavals and prolonged periods of tension for more than six decades, demonstrating that cooperation, dialogue and adherence to international commitments remained the only sustainable path to peace.

Tarar described the treaty as a remarkable example of the rules-based international order, saying it embodied the principles of good faith, pacta sunt servanda—the sanctity of agreements—and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

He said these were not merely legal concepts but the foundations upon which trust among nations was built.

He said Pakistan's national leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, had made it clear that the people of Pakistan had a right to the waters of the Indus and that the Indus Waters Treaty could not be amended, revoked, suspended or held in abeyance unilaterally.

The minister said the treaty had come into existence through mutual consensus and that any amendment or revision could only be made through mutual agreement between the parties.

He said India's attempt to unilaterally hold the treaty in abeyance had resulted in international embarrassment for India at various forums, including legal forums.

According to the minister, the moral, social and legal foundations of any such unilateral attempt were extremely weak, adding that any structure built on weak foundations would ultimately collapse.

Tarar said the need to protect the treaty had become even more urgent at a time when climate change was accelerating, glaciers were melting at unprecedented rates and water scarcity was emerging as one of the defining challenges of the era.

He said this was why international experts had been brought together at the seminar to discuss the sanctity of water, climate change, water scarcity and the sanctity of the Indus Waters Treaty.

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He noted that South Asia was home to nearly a quarter of humanity and said the region's collective future depended on transforming water from a source of contention into a catalyst for cooperation. Rivers, he said, did not divide civilizations but connected them, transcending borders, politics and generations while reminding humanity that shared challenges required shared solutions.

The minister said any attempt to block or stop water would fail because water would always find a way.

He warned that the weaponization of water or unilateral attempts to alter established arrangements undermined not only regional peace and stability but also the broader framework of international law.

He reiterated that international agreements could not be suspended or disregarded for convenience and said respect for treaties was indispensable for maintaining confidence among nations and preserving the global order.

Tarar said Pakistan had consistently demonstrated its commitment to peaceful engagement, constructive dialogue and the faithful implementation of the treaty. However, he added that if any attempt was made to stop Pakistan's water, the country's national leadership stood resolved to respond effectively to restore water for the people of Pakistan.

Highlighting the role of the media, the minister said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting recognized the importance of responsible journalism and strategic communication. In an age of misinformation and disinformation, he said, facts must prevail over false narratives and truth must triumph over propaganda.

He added that responsible media discourse could contribute significantly to promoting understanding, fostering peace and reinforcing confidence-building measures.

Addressing participants from Pakistan and abroad, Tarar said the seminar had brought together eminent policymakers, legal experts, academics and practitioners whose collective wisdom would enrich understanding of the treaty and generate valuable recommendations for preserving and strengthening the international instrument.

He called for renewed commitment to protecting both the sanctity of the treaty and the inalienable right of Pakistan's 240 million people to the waters of the Indus River.

"The waters of the Indus have flowed for millennia," he said, adding that they had witnessed transformations while continuing to sustain life with unwavering generosity.

He said it was the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure the river remained a symbol of peace and shared prosperity for generations to come.

The minister also commended the Institute of Regional Studies and partner institutions for organizing the seminar.

He said Pakistan would continue raising the issue at international forums, legally and otherwise, to protect the water rights of its people and to ensure the world that India's attempts to alter or change the treaty could not be done unilaterally.

Reaffirming the importance of water to Pakistan's economy, Tarar said agriculture remained the backbone of the country and millions of Pakistanis depended on it for their livelihoods. While acknowledging challenges posed by climate change, he said Pakistan remained determined to ensure the treaty prevailed and to protect the lives and livelihoods of its people, which were intrinsically linked to the Indus River.

He concluded by expressing confidence that Pakistan would remain steadfast in safeguarding its water rights and the Indus Waters Treaty as an instrument of peace and regional stability.