Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif brought up the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty dispute with India during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Speaking before regional leaders, Sharif attempted to rally international support by emphasizing that water serves as a vital lifeline for the entire region and cautioning against using shared water resources as a political tool. Despite his diplomatic pitch on the global stage, India has maintained its resolute position regarding the regulation of river waters flowing into the neighboring country.
Appeal Against the Political Use of Shared Waters
In his speech at the SCO meeting, Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the crucial role that water resources play in sustaining future generations across the region. He called for greater cooperation among neighboring states on shared river systems and urged all parties to respect international pacts in both letter and spirit. Pakistan has consistently maintained that the historic 1960 Indus Waters Treaty must remain the framework governing water distribution between the two nations, framing its latest diplomatic effort around the need to uphold bilateral commitments.
India Holds Firm Following the Pahalgam Incident
The current diplomatic strain follows India taking a decisive posture on the Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam. In response to the breach of regional security, India initiated measures to restrict water flows and re-evaluate the operational terms of the 1960 agreement. Even as Chinese President Xi Jinping and other prominent SCO dignitaries attended the forum, India showed no indication of relaxing its stand, reinforcing that security concerns and national interest dictate its policy on cross-border water sharing.
