PPP says Indus Waters Treaty is binding under international law, vows to defend Pakistan's water rights

HYDERABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jul, 2026) Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Central Information Secretary Shazia Marri has said that the Indus Waters Treaty is a binding international agreement that cannot be suspended or terminated unilaterally, reiterating Pakistan's commitment to defending its water rights through legal, diplomatic and international forums.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Ms Marri said, "Water is life, not a weapon," adding that Pakistan would safeguard every drop of its water and all its rights under the treaty at any cost.

She warned that weaponising transboundary waterways posed a serious threat to regional peace and global stability, urging the international community to take practical steps to protect the Indus Waters Treaty. She said that just as the world had played a role in ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, similar efforts were needed to uphold international commitments governing shared river systems.

Ms Marri described the Indus Waters Treaty as a legally binding international agreement rather than a political concession, maintaining that no country could suspend or revoke it unilaterally.

She said Pakistan sought peace but would not compromise on its water rights, describing the Indus River as the lifeline of the country's economy, agriculture and millions of people. She added that water security was an essential component of national security.

The PPPP spokesperson said Pakistan would continue pursuing its rights under the treaty through all available legal, diplomatic and international mechanisms.

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She stressed that cooperation over shared rivers had become increasingly important in the era of climate change and called on the international community to discourage the use of transboundary rivers as political leverage.

She further said Pakistan would continue strengthening water conservation, storage capacity and modern irrigation systems, while emphasising that national unity was vital for protecting the country's water interests.

Referring to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's stance, Ms Marri said the treaty could not be suspended or terminated unilaterally and that Pakistan would defend its water rights in accordance with international law through diplomacy and global forums.

She said Pakistan believed dialogue should be based on respect for international law, treaty obligations and mutual responsibilities, adding that lasting peace in South Asia depended on justice, adherence to international law and respect for international agreements.

Ms Marri said the Indus River was a trust for future generations and must not be used as a tool of political pressure or coercion. She also called for the establishment of a stronger international legal framework to prevent the weaponisation of waterways.

She concluded by saying that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's slogan, "Marsoon Marsoon, Sindhu Na Desoon" ("We may die, but we will not surrender the Indus"), symbolised Pakistan's resolve to protect its water rights, national dignity and the Indus River.

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