ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Indus Water Commission has launched a formal review of India’s recent unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Water Resources, and the Commission evaluating the legal and diplomatic consequences of the move.
Sources within the Commission revealed that a dedicated think tank comprising legal and diplomatic experts is being formed to analyze the situation and prepare recommendations for the federal cabinet. The final decision on Pakistan’s strategy will be made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, based on the think tank’s report.
Officials familiar with the matter say Pakistan’s legal position remains strong, particularly in light of India’s unilateral decision to suspend a longstanding international agreement. In response, Pakistan is considering various diplomatic options, including filing a formal complaint with the World Bank and engaging the United Nations. A legal report on the matter is expected to be submitted soon.
Former Additional Indus Water Commissioner Shiraz Memon emphasized that India cannot unilaterally halt Pakistan’s water supply under the current terms of the Vienna Convention. Speaking to Samaa TV, he noted that while both countries have the right to suspend a treaty under certain conditions, outright cancellation is not permissible.
Memon added that even if India sought to block Pakistan’s access to water, it would require up to 15 years to build the necessary infrastructure, including dams, to implement such a move. “India, in its current situation, is not capable of stopping Pakistan’s water,” he said, reaffirming that the Vienna Convention only allows for suspension—not termination—of the treaty.
Signed in 1960, the Indus Water Treaty governs the use and distribution of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. Any disruption to its terms would have far-reaching consequences, particularly for Pakistan’s agricultural sector and water supply.
