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ISLAMABAD, Jun 04 (APP):A high-profile seminar titled “Water Crisis and the Indus Waters Treaty” was held on Wednesday at the COMSTECH in response to India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), with an emphasis on pursuing all available diplomatic, legal, and multilateral channels to safeguard country’s water interests.
Organized jointly by OIC-COMSTECH, Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR), Hisaar Foundation, and the Panjwani-Hisaar Water Institute (PHWI), the event brought together thought leaders, legal experts, and policymakers to examine the implications of India’s actions and assess the future of international water treaties.
Opening the seminar, Nadira Panjwani, Chairperson KCFR, outlined the historical relevance of the 65-year-old treaty and warned of the potentially destabilizing consequences of its suspension.
Zohair Ashir, Member of the Board of Governors, Hisaar Foundation, and Executive Board Member, PHWI, emphasized the seminar’s significance amid rising tensions between two nuclear-armed neighbors, and the urgent need for measured, strategic response.
In her address, Simi Kamal, Founder and Chairperson of the Hisaar Foundation and co-founder of PHWI, presented a hydrological analysis of the treaty. She stressed the importance of integrated, evidence-based approaches to managing Pakistan’s water crisis, especially in the face of upstream interventions and climate change.
Environmental legal expert, Rafay Alam delved into the legal dimensions of the IWT, underlining Pakistan’s rights under international law and its potential recourse through the International Court of Justice.
Addressing the broader geopolitical implications, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed called the suspension a blow to regional diplomacy, warning it could damage India’s global reputation and further strain its relations with China.
He termed the weaponization of water as a crime against humanity.
Climate expert, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh discussed the compounded risks of climate change in the wake of the treaty’s suspension and called for a national water strategy to address Pakistan’s growing vulnerability.
Renowned defence analyst, Ikram Sehgal linked India’s aggressive posture to a broader pattern of hostility, warning that water could become the new battleground if diplomatic solutions fail.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, OIC-COMSTECH, summarized the seminar’s deliberations and emphasized the need for Pakistan to pursue all available diplomatic, legal, and multilateral channels to safeguard its water interests.