Weaponisation of IWT cannot and will not succeed: President Zardari Azad News HD
President Asif Ali Zardari Warns Against India’s Violation of the Indus Waters Treaty: “Weaponisation of Water Will Not Be Tolerated”
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday issued a strong and resolute warning to India, declaring that any attempt to violate or manipulate the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would not succeed and that Pakistan would not tolerate the weaponisation of water. Speaking during a high-level meeting on water resource management and regional stability, President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to defending its water rights and safeguarding the lifeline of its agricultural economy. His remarks reflect growing apprehension in Islamabad over India’s repeated attempts to alter the flow of western rivers — the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — which are allocated to Pakistan under the IWT, signed in 1960 with the World Bank’s mediation.
The president’s statement comes at a crucial time when bilateral relations between Pakistan and India remain strained due to persistent border tensions, the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and India’s controversial water projects along rivers that flow into Pakistan. Zardari, who has long been an advocate of regional peace and cooperation through dialogue, took a firm position, saying that any unilateral attempt to alter the agreed water distribution would amount to an act of aggression.
Historical Background: The Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in September 1960 by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan, with the World Bank as a guarantor, is widely regarded as one of the most successful water-sharing agreements in history. The treaty allocated the three eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — to India, while Pakistan was granted unrestricted use of the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. The arrangement was designed to ensure that despite partition, both nations could coexist with fair access to water for agriculture and energy.
Over six decades later, the treaty remains a vital document for regional stability, but it has come under strain due to India’s growing water infrastructure development along the western rivers. Several hydroelectric and dam projects — including Kishanganga, Baglihar, Ratle, and Pakal Dul — have raised concerns in Pakistan, where experts argue that India is effectively gaining control over the timing and volume of water flow into Pakistani territory.
President Zardari’s Firm Stance
President Zardari, addressing a gathering of federal ministers, provincial leaders, and senior water management officials, asserted that Pakistan’s water rights are “non-negotiable.” He emphasized that Pakistan would pursue all diplomatic, legal, and political channels to ensure the sanctity of the Indus Waters Treaty is maintained.
“Water is not just a resource — it is a matter of survival for our people,” the president said. “The Indus system sustains our agriculture, our economy, and our way of life. Any attempt to weaponize water would be viewed as an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty.”
He urged the international community, particularly the World Bank, to play a more proactive role in ensuring India’s compliance with the treaty. “The guarantor must not remain silent when one party undermines the very foundations of the agreement it helped create,” Zardari remarked, indirectly criticizing what Pakistan sees as the World Bank’s passive response to recent Indian actions.
Regional Implications of Water Politics
Water has increasingly become a tool of strategic pressure in South Asia. With climate change intensifying and glaciers in the Himalayas melting at unprecedented rates, the availability of freshwater resources has turned into a geopolitical issue. Both India and Pakistan are heavily dependent on the Indus basin, which supports nearly 270 million people.
Analysts have warned that India’s construction of dams and hydropower projects could give it leverage during times of political or military confrontation. By controlling the flow of water, New Delhi could potentially disrupt Pakistan’s irrigation cycles, affecting its food security and economy.
President Zardari’s warning, therefore, resonates beyond Pakistan’s borders — it is a message to regional powers that water must not become a weapon of coercion. “Peace in South Asia cannot coexist with policies that threaten another nation’s basic right to water,” he stated.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic and Legal Measures
In response to India’s continued violations, Pakistan has taken several steps through international channels. The country has repeatedly raised the issue at the World Bank and in forums such as the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
In January 2023, Pakistan successfully initiated arbitration proceedings under the IWT against India’s construction of the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects. The Court of Arbitration, established under the treaty, found jurisdiction to hear Pakistan’s complaints — despite India’s objections and attempts to halt the proceedings.
Zardari highlighted this legal victory as proof that Pakistan’s position was based on justice and law, not rhetoric. He reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to pursuing its case within the framework of international law but warned that patience should not be mistaken for weakness. “Diplomacy is our strength, but Pakistan’s resolve is unshakable. We will protect our rivers and our rights at all costs,” he said.
Climate Change and the Water Crisis
President Zardari also addressed the broader issue of climate change, noting that Pakistan ranks among the countries most vulnerable to water scarcity. He called for a comprehensive national water management policy, urging all provinces to coordinate efforts to conserve and utilize resources efficiently.
He noted that while India’s actions exacerbate regional tensions, Pakistan must also focus on internal reforms. “We cannot afford wastage or mismanagement. Our response to external threats must be backed by domestic strength and unity,” the president emphasized.
The president’s comments echoed recent warnings from international experts who predict that the Indus River system could experience severe strain due to glacial melt, erratic rainfall patterns, and population growth. If mismanaged, Pakistan could face acute water shortages by 2040.
The Political and Security Dimensions
The issue of water rights has also entered Pakistan’s domestic political debate. Lawmakers across the spectrum have called for unity in defending the country’s interests, with both the government and opposition agreeing that the Indus Waters Treaty is a “red line.”
Security analysts have described the water issue as a potential “new frontier” in the long-standing India-Pakistan conflict. While both nations possess nuclear capabilities, the strategic use of water as a weapon could trigger humanitarian and environmental crises of unprecedented scale.
President Zardari’s statement, therefore, was not just a diplomatic message but also a security signal — that Pakistan views water security as part of its national defense policy.
International Reactions
The president’s statement drew international attention, particularly from environmental organizations and foreign policy analysts. Many agreed with his assessment that the world must pay greater attention to water conflicts as a rising threat to peace.
Experts at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) noted that the IWT, despite its resilience, requires modernization to address 21st-century challenges such as climate change, data transparency, and technological monitoring of dams and reservoirs.
Meanwhile, Indian officials have downplayed Pakistan’s concerns, maintaining that their projects comply with the treaty’s technical provisions. However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources has disputed these claims, stating that Indian engineers have repeatedly denied access to inspection teams and withheld crucial design information.
Pakistan’s Call for International Mediation
President Zardari reiterated his call for the World Bank and the United Nations to intervene and facilitate dialogue. He reminded global powers that their silence on such issues undermines their credibility as advocates of peace and justice.
“If the global community can convene conferences on climate action, it can also uphold agreements that prevent conflict over water. The Indus Waters Treaty is not just a bilateral matter — it is a commitment to humanity’s shared responsibility,” Zardari declared.
Unity and National Mobilization
At home, Zardari called for unity across political and provincial lines. He urged farmers, scientists, and youth to join hands in conserving water, improving irrigation systems, and promoting awareness about the importance of protecting Pakistan’s river systems.
He announced that the presidency would soon launch a national campaign titled “Water for Peace, Water for Life,” aimed at promoting awareness, innovation, and cooperation to safeguard the nation’s water resources.
Zardari’s emphasis on unity was symbolic of his broader political philosophy — that Pakistan’s resilience lies in solidarity. “Our rivers unite us. From the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan to the fields of Sindh, water binds our destiny. We must defend it together,” he said.
Conclusion: A Warning and a Vision
President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement marks one of the strongest responses from Pakistan in recent years regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. His words reflect not only the nation’s determination to protect its natural resources but also its desire for a rules-based, peaceful coexistence in South Asia.
By declaring that the weaponisation of water “will not succeed,” Zardari positioned Pakistan as a defender of international law and environmental justice. His speech served as both a warning to India and a call to the world: that the struggle for water security is not a regional dispute, but a global challenge requiring cooperation, fairness, and foresight.
In the end, his message was clear and unwavering — Pakistan will not allow its rivers to be turned into instruments of pressure or domination. The flow of the Indus will remain free, just, and sovereign — as guaranteed by history, law, and the unbreakable will of its people.
