Pakistan has formally protested India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), declaring the unilateral action “illegal” and in violation of the historic agreement. A letter of protest has been sent by Pakistan’s Secretary of Water Resources, Syed Ali Murtaza, to his Indian counterpart, sources revealed.

In the letter, Pakistan rejected the Indian move to suspend the treaty, maintaining that the Indus Waters Treaty does not contain any clause that allows for unilateral suspension or alteration. The language of the treaty, the letter emphasises, contains no concept of “suspension.”

Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to the treaty in its original form, asserting that no unilateral change or disruption will be accepted. The letter underscores that Pakistan continues to consider the IWT as binding and fully in effect.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered in 1960 under the auspices of the World Bank, outlines water-sharing arrangements between Pakistan and India, particularly governing the usage of rivers flowing from India into Pakistan. The treaty has long been considered a cornerstone of water diplomacy between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Suspending Indus Water Treaty on paper means nothing, says Rana Sanaullah