Pakistan Calls Indus Waters Treaty a National Security Issue

Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah said in Islamabad on Tuesday that the Indus Waters Treaty has moved beyond a technical water-sharing matter and now directly touches Pakistan’s national security. His remarks came during a seminar focused on the treaty’s legal and constitutional framework, at a time when tensions with India over river flows remain high.

Shah said Pakistan’s dependence on the Indus basin makes the issue central to food security, livelihoods and social stability. He noted that the lives of more than 240 million people are linked to these waters, while agriculture, employment and large areas of cultivable land depend heavily on predictable river flows.

The commissioner warned that uncertainty over water data and river operations could create serious risks for a downstream country. He said timely information about river flows is essential for flood forecasting, reservoir planning and the safety of communities living along major waterways.

In his address, Shah described the treaty as a conflict-prevention mechanism, not merely a bilateral arrangement. He said Pakistan had shown restraint, but stressed that food, livelihood and water security could not be treated as abstract diplomatic issues when the country’s core interests were at stake.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also addressed the seminar and said Pakistan’s people have an inalienable right to the waters of the Indus River system. He argued that the treaty remains an instrument of peace and regional stability, and warned that no side can unilaterally amend, suspend or disregard it.

The debate has intensified since India announced last year that it was placing its treaty obligations in abeyance. That decision followed the Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan without presenting evidence; Islamabad rejected the allegation and called for a neutral investigation.

Pakistan maintains that the 1960 treaty, brokered with the World Bank’s involvement, fixed clear rights and obligations between the two countries. Under the arrangement, the eastern rivers were allocated to India, while the western rivers were reserved for Pakistan, with India allowed only limited uses under defined exceptions.

Shah said Pakistan does not oppose lawful hydropower development but objects to what it views as excessive control, lack of transparency and opaque river operations. He also referred to international arbitration outcomes, saying recent rulings had reinforced Pakistan’s position that India must allow western rivers to flow within the treaty’s limits.

The issue carries serious consequences for Pakistan’s economy and society because any disruption in water flows can affect agriculture, food prices, energy planning and disaster preparedness. With climate change already increasing pressure on glaciers, monsoon patterns and water availability, officials say dependable treaty mechanisms are more important than ever.

The next phase will likely involve continued diplomatic, legal and technical efforts by Pakistan to keep the Indus Waters Treaty active and enforceable. Islamabad is expected to raise the matter at international forums while pressing India to restore data-sharing, inspections and regular communication under the treaty framework.