Key points
- Pakistan faces climate change and water threats
- IWT violation poses grave threat to Pakistan
- Pakistan reaffirms commitment to water rights
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari warned that India’s violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and attempts to weaponise water would not succeed, describing them as a threat to Pakistan’s people and regional stability.
Addressing the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, Zardari highlighted Pakistan’s dual challenges: the devastating impact of climate change and India’s unilateral actions over water. “On one hand, we face the brunt of climate change, which has caused immense suffering for our people through large-scale floods,” he said. “On the other, we are being threatened from across the border with a new danger, the weaponisation of water.”
Zardari pointed out that water was a shared human right and could never be used as a political weapon. He condemned India’s actions, noting that the violation of the IWT posed a grave threat to Pakistan’s 240 million people. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to defending its water rights under international law, stating, “Such tactics cannot and will not succeed.”
International attention
The dispute gained international attention after India placed the IWT “in abeyance” following an attack in Kashmir in April 2023, blaming Pakistan without evidence. In June, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that India could not unilaterally suspend the treaty. India dismissed the ruling, refusing to acknowledge the court’s jurisdiction.
Zardari also emphasised Pakistan’s commitment to social justice and development, citing initiatives like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and green housing projects. He condemned the “genocide and apartheid” in Palestine and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for a sovereign Palestinian state. He further addressed the Kashmir dispute, urging UN action and reaffirming Pakistan’s support for multilateralism.
