ROME: Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah has issued a strong warning against the unilateral manipulation of shared water resources, accusing India of undermining a cornerstone water-sharing agreement and posing a serious threat to regional peace and sustainable development.
Speaking at the Rome Water Dialogue organized by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Dr. Shah emphasized that any attempt by a nation to control transboundary water flows constitutes a violation of international law and global norms. “Any attempt to unilaterally alter transboundary water flows or weaponize water access is not only dangerous but contrary to international norms and sustainable development goals,” Dr. Shah stated.
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Representing Pakistan at the global forum, he expressed deep concern over India’s recent actions regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) — a pact long regarded as a model of cooperation between two nuclear-armed neighbors. “The Indus Waters Treaty has long been considered a model of cooperation, even during times of conflict between Pakistan and India,” he said. “However, India’s recent unilateral actions to suspend treaty-level engagements risk undermining this crucial framework.”
Calling the IWT one of the world’s most resilient water-sharing agreements, Dr. Shah urged the international community to recognize the emerging risks to transboundary water governance. He appealed to global institutions to uphold the sanctity of such treaties and ensure their continued implementation. “The international community must act as stewards of peace and justice,” he stressed, highlighting the treaty’s importance for Pakistan’s water security and population welfare.
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Dr. Shah’s remarks come amid escalating concerns in Islamabad over India’s reported efforts to alter river flows under the Indus Basin, potentially impacting millions who depend on the shared waterways for agriculture, energy, and drinking water.