Former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, China and the United Nations, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan has said that Pakistan will safeguard its legitimate water rights under the Indus Waters Treaty through all available legal, diplomatic and national means, warning that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its share of water would constitute a grave humanitarian and security challenge for the region.
Speaking in a television interview, Sardar Masood Khan said that while Pakistan remains committed to resolving disputes through international law and diplomacy, it cannot allow any unilateral action that threatens the livelihoods and future of over 250 million Pakistanis. He said water security is inseparable from Pakistan’s economic stability, agriculture, food security and national survival.
Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty, Sardar Masood Khan observed that the agreement, signed in 1960, had always been unequal from Pakistan’s perspective, as the country had already made substantial concessions regarding the six rivers of the Indus basin. He added that India had subsequently exploited even the limited rights available under the Treaty by constructing multiple dams and attempting to alter the natural flow of rivers in violation of the spirit and provisions of the agreement.
Sardar Masood Khan stressed that India’s unilateral suspension of the Treaty has no legal standing. He noted that the Court of Arbitration has already declared India’s action unlawful, while international legal experts and the World Bank have also maintained that no provision of the Treaty permits its unilateral suspension. He emphasized that the Treaty remains valid in perpetuity and must be implemented in good faith.
Highlighting the broader implications of India’s actions, Sardar Masood Khan said the issue is no longer confined to a legal or political dispute but has evolved into a humanitarian challenge affecting millions of people. He urged Pakistan to intensify its diplomatic outreach by presenting the issue before governments, international organizations, climate forums, academia and global civil society so that the international community fully understands the consequences of weaponizing water against an entire population.
