Honorable Colleagues,
Distinguished Ambassadors and UN Representatives,
Learned Scholars and policy experts,
Representatives of the international and national media, 
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Asalamu alaikum and very good afternoon.

I wish to commend all the organizers of the seminar titled Indus waters Treaty an instrument of regional peace and security. I understand that the throughout the day leading experts from Pakistan and abroad have held meaningful discussions on one of the defining challenges of our times. Water transcends political boundaries. It sustains life, shapes civilizations and its governance has profound implications for peace, security and sustainable development.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Water is not merely a natural resource. It is the foundation of human dignity, economic prosperity, food security, and environmental sustainability. Throughout history, great civilizations have flourished along rivers and few river systems have shaped human history as profoundly as the Indus. For thousands of years, its waters have sustained communities, cultures, and one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the responsibility to preserve this shared heritage rests upon all of us. Transboundary rivers must bring nations closer through cooperation rather than divide them through confrontation.

This principle is firmly embedded in international law and has guided water sharing arrangements across the globe. It was in this spirit that Pakistan and India concluded the Indus Waters Treaty in1960 under the auspices of the World Bank. The treaty established a durable and carefully negotiated framework governing the six rivers to India, three eastern rivers to India and three western rivers to Pakistan while permitting India limited use in accordance with treaty provisions.

India has benefited immensely from the water storage, irrigation and hydroelectric infrastructure built on the eastern rivers. We also do not object to India's treaty based use of the western rivers and seek to settle any differences or disputes within the framework provided in the Indus waters treaty itself. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the treaty demanded significant adjustments from Pakistan as it had to fundamentally restructure its irrigation and water management systems in reliance upon the permanent legal framework. Despite being disadvantaged along the banks of our eastern rivers where due to India's unrestricted use, these rivers dried up in Pakistan. But we honored the treaty commitments and obligations in letter and spirit. That investment reflected our confidence that international agreements once concluded would be honored in good faith.

The treaty justified that confidence for more than six decades including periods of war and political tension. It provided predictability, transparency and stability. It has rightly been regarded as one of the most successful examples of transboundary water cooperation anywhere in the world. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is therefore deeply regrettable that this landmark treaty now faces its gravest challenge. India's unilateral decision to place the treaty in abeyance has no basis in the treaty itself or in the international law. Equally concerning has been the suspension of cooperation through the institutional mechanism that have been long served both countries under this treaty. Pakistan's position is very clear. We reject India's unilateral and illegal announcement. The Indus water treaty remains valid, binding and fully operative. No party can unilaterally suspend or terminate its obligations under a treaty that contains no such provision.

This is not merely Pakistan’s interpretation. It reflects the fundamental principle of international law that treaties must be performed in good faith. Our position has been vindicated by the ongoing proceedings before the court of arbitration constituted under the Indus Water Treaty. The court of arbitration has also affirmed that the Indus Water Treaty establishes a permanent legal regime governing the parties rights and obligation over the Indus Basin. In doing so, it drew an analogy to boundary treaties emphasizing the treaties creating stable territorial and resource allocation regimes are not susceptible or unilateral suspension or termination.

If international agreements can be disregarded wherever they become politically inconvenient, confidence in the international legal order is inevitably weakened. The sanctity of the treaties is one of the foundation upon which peaceful relations among states are built. The implications extend well beyond South Asia. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, since April 2025, Pakistan has observed a pattern of factions that raises serious concern, including abrupt variations in the flows of Chenab and Jhelum rivers and continued efforts to expand infrastructure capable of regulating waters allocated to Pakistan under the treaty. Such actions undermine the cooperative framework that has preserved regional stability for almost more than six decades.

The recent supplemental award of the court of arbitration reaffirmed that the treaty imposes substantive legal limit son India's control over the western waters. This reinforces an essential principle. Disputes must be addressed through the mechanisms established by the treaty itself and not through unilateral actions and measures.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

India's presence in the region has been witnessed by the world after the war and this is most regrettable attitude as some of the speakers I heard since morning and particularly what Hina Rabbani Khar Sahiba bound up the second session. India's present course of conduct runs contrary to the fundamental rules governing treaty relations including the Vienna convention as well as universally adopted principles of international law. Responsible nations respect international law and implement international treaties as a moral and legal obligation. We are convinced that bringing international commitments cannot be arbitrarily, conveniently or unilaterally disregarded, manipulated or terminated. This remains the core of international law and norms. Incidentally, Pakistan has two years elected member seat in the UN Security Council from 1st of January 2025 to 31st of December 2026 and countries in turn get its presidency. So did Pakistan last year in July. Which subject we chose for the material and for the ministerial discussion during our presidency? You will be happy to note multilateralism, peaceful settlement of disputes. This was Pakistan subject and it was dozens of countries, you know took part. I personally went to preside that session July 2025. So that shows Pakistan intent Pakistan respect and Pakistan's intentions about the respect for the international law and the treaties. Responsible nations respect international law and implement international treaties as I said as amoral and legal obligation. We are convinced that binding international commitments cannot be changed. We must be aware of the cost of derailing an international treaty on trans boundary rivers choosing confrontation by weaponizing shared waters and breaching international law and binding treaties. Such transgressions in international relations set dangerous precedents dent national credibility and challenge the foundations of interstate cooperation. Such actions erode the rules-based order which international peace and security rest.

For Pakistan this is not an abstract legal debate. Water is the lifeline of more than 250 million people or nationals.

Our agriculture, our security, energy production and economic development depend upon the uninterrupted flow of the three western rivers to Pakistan. Protecting these waters is therefore a matter of vital national interest.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

we sincerely advise India against sowing the seeds of war and jeopardizing the peace and security of our region. We must seek to promote peace in South Asia by addressing all outstanding issues. Pakistan has consistently sought to resolve differences through dialogue, diplomacy, and the treaty- based mechanisms agreed by both parties. We remain committed to these principles because lasting peace can only be built upon mutual respect, sovereign equality, and faithful implementation of international obligations. At the same time, there should be no misunderstanding. Any attempt to deprive Pakistan of the waters rightfully allocated to Pakistan under the Indus water treaty would have profound consequences for regional peace and security. Such actions serve neither country and would undermine the shared interest of nearly 2 billion people in the South Asia. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, South Asia faces enough shared challenges. Shared waters should become a source of cooperation, confidence and regional integration, not coercion or confrontation. The Indus Water treaty signed over several decades ago and after several years of negotiations was meant for best utilization of the available waters in the Indus basin by both the countries provided it is implemented in the spiriting which it was conceived without being tapped in a zero sum mentality. Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to peace, dialogue, and good neighborly relations. We seek neither confrontation nor conflict. We seek respect for international law, faithful implementation of treaty obligations, respect for each other's water rights and cooperation that serves the interests of present and future generations. At the same time, we will not allow a rightful share of water resources to be misappropriated and will safeguard and defend our rights and interest under international law through all available means. You might recall that after the May 2025, war and rather after phelgam incident and after the announcement of India to hold the treaty in abeyance. There was a national security committee meeting in Pakistan chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The national security committee comprises of the civil and military leadership and they were unanimous in declaring that any diversion any interruption and any reduction in the rights of Pakistan viz-a-viz Indus treaty will be treated as an act of war. And we decided this, we mean it and we will make sure that our rights are not prejudiced or abused.
I can say Pakistan has demonstrated to be a very careful country. We tried to contribute to bring peace and security in this region. I'm referring to the US Iran conflict. Recently you have all observed. Pakistan did its best to bring together on the negotiation table two parties which have never shook hand in the last47 years. 10th and 11th of April this year these two countries, we managed to convince that they sat on the same table direct dialogue after 47 years. Some countries like our neighbor used to call Pakistan a terrorist country. Pakistan is today known as peacemaker of the region in South Asia. Alhamdulillah.

This is the country which has been no win the recent Oslo forum. The US Envoy said Pakistan has become the net security provider of this region. Pakistan believes in dignity, respect. No matter how small a country is or how big a country is, they're all equal in the foreign policy of Pakistan. We respect them all. The UN Security Council was created for what? for peace and security and that peace and security is the main responsibility which is being sabotaged by our neighbor through an act of, I would say illegal declaration of treaty in abeyance, this is not on it's will never be acceptable we have to work within the treaty mechanism you just read from one of the speaker article 12 very clearly spells out that how this treaty can be changed, how this treaty can be you know superseded. It is only a mutual concept and there's a mechanism there are three tier mechanism in the treaty itself how to resolve the disputes. So you know one-sided any action by our neighbor they would making a mistake.

They did make a mistake last year. The phelgam incident Pakistan had nothing to do with it. Within hours, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif made an open offer and the international community is very well witnessed to that offer that we are ready to undergo and agree to any international investigation of the Phelgam incident which actually led to their declaration of treaty in abeyance. Could it be like earlier similar incidents in India which led to 5th of August 2019 by declaring Jammu and Kashmir as part of India by all of a sudden changing its constitution. So please don't play these mistakes and don't place these dramas. I think we should live like good neighbors. my parliamentary colleague just shared with you Pakistan has made in the past number of attempts obviously Hina Rabbani Khar Sahiba belongs to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and earlier she has been a part of Musharaf’s government so you know we in all sincerity are ready to talk on all issues what we call composite dialogues But it takes two to tango. It's not that Pakistan would like to do something and the other side would not take it. They become so narrow minded that even the sports are now subjected to this Hindutwa, you know philosophy. See the recent elections in Bihar. What happened? 40 million people were disenfranchised and they were deprived to vote. So you see that is their, you know internal matters but I think the world community must take notice of it. It is certainly not desirable. This region houses two over two billion human beings and we are all bound by the UN that institution was created for such purposes. The UN Security Council main mandate is security and peace. So this is a clear subject which the global community must impress upon in order to have peace in the region. So in conclusion, the Indus water treaty is not merely as I said water sharing arrangement but a vital instrument of regional peace, stability and cooperation. Let us reaffirm that shared waters must never be weaponized.

They must remain a bridge between nations guided by cooperation, dialogue and respect for international law for the benefit of the present and future generations. 

I thank you all.

Islamabad

June 30, 2026