Islamabad( The COW News Digital )Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed a recent interim order issued by the Court of Arbitration regarding the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty dispute with India. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, he declared the ruling a significant diplomatic and legal success for Pakistan.
“The Court’s decision has reinforced Pakistan’s long-held stance that India cannot unilaterally suspend or terminate the Indus Waters Treaty,” said Prime Minister Sharif. “Water is the lifeline of our economy and agriculture, and we are committed to safeguarding our water resources under all international legal frameworks.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the ruling supports Pakistan’s consistent position that the treaty is a bilateral agreement that cannot be annulled or altered without mutual consent. The statement comes in response to India’s repeated assertions that it reserves the right to alter the treaty due to alleged violations and geopolitical tensions.
Sharif praised the efforts of Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, the Federal Minister for Law, and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan for their “outstanding work on the international legal front.” He noted their role in representing Pakistan’s case at the arbitration proceedings, which were held under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to working on the preservation and efficient management of water resources. “Our government recognizes that the future of Pakistan’s agriculture, food security, and sustainable development hinges on access to uninterrupted water supplies as agreed upon in the treaty.”
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, governs the distribution of water from the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. Tensions over water rights have escalated in recent years as both countries face growing environmental and geopolitical pressures.
The Prime Minister concluded by affirming that Pakistan would continue to pursue all diplomatic and legal avenues to ensure its water rights are protected and respected. “We will not accept any unilateral actions that threaten the spirit or structure of the Indus Waters Treaty,” he said.
