ROME, Oct 18 – Pakistan has strongly criticized India for what it calls violations of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), with Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah warning that unilateral control over shared water resources poses a serious threat to regional peace and sustainable development.
Speaking at the Rome Water Dialogue, held during the FAO World Food Forum (Oct 12–15), Dr Shah accused India of undermining one of the world’s most successful bilateral water-sharing agreements.
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Through financial… pic.twitter.com/ifVod6GXaA
— The Pakistan Telegraph (@TelegraphPak) October 16, 2025
“The Indus Waters Treaty has long been a symbol of cooperation, even in times of conflict,” said Dr Shah, addressing global delegates. “India’s recent unilateral actions to suspend treaty-level engagements are deeply concerning and risk destabilizing a critical framework of transboundary water governance.”
Dr Shah emphasized that any attempt to manipulate transboundary water flows or weaponize access to water not only contravenes international law but also violates the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Calling the IWT a “sacrosanct agreement,” he urged the international community to act as stewards of peace, ensuring that such treaties remain intact and respected. “Water must never become a tool of political leverage,” he stressed.
Representing Pakistan at the global forum, Dr Shah’s remarks come amid increasing tensions between the two South Asian neighbors over water rights, with Islamabad accusing New Delhi of bypassing treaty mechanisms and altering river flows.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has been praised for enduring through decades of political conflict. However, recent disputes have triggered concerns over its future viability.
Dr Shah’s address has added weight to Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring international attention to India’s alleged treaty violations and safeguard the region’s fragile water-sharing framework.
