Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday stated that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) cannot be revoked unilaterally, as Pakistan prepares to present the treaty’s legal and technical aspects to experts at the IWT 2026 seminar, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Tuesday.
“Water security is important to Pakistan,” the information minister emphasized, adding that the country retains legal and environmental rights over the contractually bound waterway shared with its eastern neighbor.
Background of the Indus Waters Treaty
For over six decades, India and Pakistan have amicably managed the Indus River system through the IWT, a transboundary water-sharing agreement signed on September 19, 1960. However, in April last year, India suspended the treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
Tarar, during a joint press conference with Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik, highlighted that the World Bank-brokered treaty includes a detailed framework for resolving any outstanding issues.
Pakistan's Stance on Water Rights
Tarar reminded the Modi-led government that water is not just the country’s lifeline; it is also the country’s “red line.” The minister said the government invited a host of water and legal experts from around the world to inculcate awareness about Pakistan’s rights over the Indus River against the backdrop of the agreement. A conference has been organized on Tuesday to supplement the cause.
“Everyone recognizes the narrative of Pakistan,” the information minister outlined.
International Support for Pakistan's Position
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik said the issue of unilateral suspension had been raised on several international forums, including the United Nations. “Pakistan’s standpoint was upheld by the International Arbitration Courts,” Malik underscored during the press conference.
