Pakistan has called for treaty-based dialogue after India announced it would hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance [1].
The dispute threatens the stability of water sharing between the two nations, as Pakistan alleges that unilateral Indian projects violate the 1960 agreement [1].
India rejected an award from a Court of Arbitration on May 15, 2024 [2]. A spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs said the court was illegally constituted and that the suspension of the treaty remains in force [2].
Responding to these developments, Ishaq Dar, a senior political figure and former Finance Minister of Pakistan, spoke at a seminar in Brussels on May 20, 2024 [1]. Dar said the river system and the necessity of legal frameworks to resolve the impasse were concerns [1].
"We have raised concerns over India’s unilateral projects on the Indus river system and insist that any dispute be handled within the treaty framework, through dialogue and international law," Dar said [1].
The tension centers on the Indus River system, which spans both countries and is vital for agriculture and energy [1, 2]. Pakistan maintains that India's current trajectory ignores the established rules of the 1960 treaty, a document intended to prevent conflict over shared water resources [1].
India continues to maintain that the award issued by the self-styled Court of Arbitration is invalid [2]. The government of India said it will not recognize the ruling while the treaty's suspension continues [2].
“India rejects the so‑called award by the illegally constituted Court of Arbitration”
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty represents a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions. Because the 1960 agreement has historically survived multiple wars between India and Pakistan, the rejection of a Court of Arbitration award and the move to hold the treaty in abeyance suggest a shift toward unilateral water management that could increase the risk of regional instability.
