India cannot unilaterally suspend Indus Waters Treaty, says Qaiser Sheikh

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2026) Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Sheikh on Sunday said India could neither suspend nor terminate the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) unilaterally, describing any such move as illegal and contrary to international law.

Addressing the seminar in Islamabad organised by EMPAK Strategies on the launch of its research report titled "Water, Climate, and Diplomacy: Securing Pakistan's Indus Basin Future", the minister warned that continued tensions over water could have serious consequences not only for South Asia but also for global peace and economic stability.

The report argues that Pakistan must move beyond short-term emergency responses and adopt a comprehensive national water security policy to address growing flood risks and an increasingly severe water crisis.

It says the recent surge in water flows in the Chenab River during the monsoon season exposed significant weaknesses in Pakistan's water management system.

According to the report, extreme rainfall, upstream river flows, inadequate water storage capacity, ageing irrigation infrastructure, weak groundwater governance and limited flood preparedness have increased the country's vulnerability to climate-related disasters.

The report warns that climate change, rapid glacier melt, population growth, deteriorating irrigation networks, unchecked groundwater extraction and mounting pressure on the Indus Basin have pushed Pakistan into a severe water security crisis.

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It says the country must improve domestic water governance while pursuing proactive regional water diplomacy.

It recommends five policy priorities: effective implementation of the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord; expansion of strategic water storage and flood management infrastructure; enhanced hydrological cooperation with China and technical dialogue with Afghanistan; promotion of climate-smart agriculture, digital water accounting and groundwater regulation; and mobilisation of international climate finance by placing water security at the centre of Pakistan's climate, economic and national security agenda.

Speaking at the seminar, EMPAK Strategies Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Younis said the recent increase in Chenab River flows showed that water security should no longer be viewed solely as a seasonal flood management issue.

He said Pakistan required a long-term strategy integrating stronger domestic water governance, climate resilience, expanded water storage and proactive regional water diplomacy.

Younis said water security had become central to Pakistan's economic stability, food security and national security, adding that strengthening institutions, investing in modern infrastructure and adopting science-based planning were essential to building resilience against future climate- and water-related challenges.