Pakistan won’t let India cross Indus Waters Treaty red line: PM

DUSHANBE (APP): Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday issued a strong warning to India over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), saying Pakistan would never allow New Delhi to weaponize water for political gains or violate the agreement, which is vital for millions of lives.

Speaking at the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Tajikistan, PM Shehbaz said India’s “unilateral and illegal” move to put the IWT on hold was unacceptable and deeply regrettable.

“Water must not become a tool for political coercion. The red line will not be crossed,” he said.

The three-day conference, attended by over 2,500 delegates from 80 UN member states and 70 international organisations, focuses on glacier protection, climate action, and global cooperation. The event is co-hosted by the UN, UNESCO, WMO, ADB, and others.

Pakistan, home to over 13,000 glaciers, is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. PM Shehbaz pointed out that nearly half of the Indus River’s annual flow comes from glacial melt.

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“Our five major rivers—Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej—depend on stable glaciers,” he noted, warning that climate change could trigger glacial floods followed by major water shortages.

Referring to the 2022 floods that caused massive destruction in Pakistan, the PM urged for swift global action, especially from developed nations, to fulfil climate finance pledges focused on adaptation, mitigation, and damage control.

He also called for stronger disaster preparedness and early warning systems, reminding participants that shared water sources, like the Ravi and Tajikistan’s Vakhsh rivers, tie countries together in a joint ecological destiny.

“We must act now to preserve these lifelines for future generations,” he concluded.