ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has warned India that unilaterally holding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) “in abeyance” any more could endanger the fragile ceasefire agreed after the deadly exchange of strikes.
Islamabad has called on New Delhi to immediately reconsider its earlier decision of holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, warning that “weaponising water” would be tantamount to an act of war.
In a firm statement to CNN, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said, “Pakistan has made it absolutely clear that if the decision to declare the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is not reconsidered, the ceasefire would be in danger. Weaponising water would be an act of war.”
According to Indian media outlets quoting unnamed official sources, Pakistan has sent a formal communication to New Delhi, urging India to restore the original status of the Treaty, linking its importance to the ongoing ceasefire agreement reached a few days back, consequent upon Pakistan’s decisive retaliatory strikes named as Operation Bunyaanum Marsoos.
The World Bank, which is a signatory and key observer of the Treaty, has also weighed in on the matter. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, World Bank President Ajay Banga emphasised the binding nature of the accord.
“The provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty are clear—no party can unilaterally suspend or alter it,” Banga said, underscoring the treaty’s enduring legal validity.
Signed in 1960 with the World Bank as guarantor, the IWT is considered one of the world’s most successful water-sharing agreements, despite periodic tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The Treaty has survived wars and skirmishes, making its potential breakdown particularly alarming for regional stability.
Islamabad’s diplomatic circles have warned that unilateral changes to the Treaty could destabilise South Asia and set a dangerous precedent. Analysts say Pakistan is now actively engaging with international stakeholders to prevent what it sees as India’s attempt to rewrite international obligations.
Indus Waters Treaty cannot be suspended
Earlier, World Bank President Ajay Banga said there is no provision in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) that allows either India or Pakistan to suspend the agreement.
Speaking to Indian broadcaster CNBC-TV18 in New Delhi, Banga clarified, “There is no provision in the treaty to allow it to be suspended. The way it was drawn up, it either needs to be gone or it needs to be replaced by another one. That requires the two countries to want to agree.”
He noted that the Indian government had put the treaty “in abeyance,” rather than formally suspending it. However, under the terms of the treaty, there is no legal mechanism for such a move.
Outlining the World Bank’s role, Banga said the institution acts as a facilitator in case of disputes. “It’s not our job to make a decision. Our role is to facilitate a process—either to identify a neutral expert or set up a court of arbitration if both sides agree,” he said.
Banga added that the World Bank is also responsible for financing the arbitration process through a trust fund established when the treaty was signed.
