India linking IWT to other issues instead of following legal process: Ahmer Bilal Soofi

ISLAMABAD, Jun 30 (APP): Former Federal Minister for Law, Ahmer Bilal Soofi on Tuesday accused India of linking the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with unrelated political issues instead of pursuing available legal mechanisms, and described New Delhi’s actions as inconsistent with the United Nations Charter.

Addressing the international seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty here at the Jinnah Convention Centre, Soofi said Pakistan had already raised India’s decision to keep the treaty in abeyance at the United Nations.

He said that rather than following the legal dispute resolution process provided under the treaty, India had opted for a path of escalating tensions.

Referring to the Pahalgam incident, Soofi said India should have formally sought Pakistan’s cooperation by sharing information and requesting assistance in the investigation. Instead, he said, New Delhi was attempting to link the Indus Waters Treaty with other bilateral issues.

He emphasized that water, air and food were universally recognized as fundamental human necessities and should not be politicized.

Soofi reiterated that Pakistan remained fully committed to international law and stressed the need for dialogue between Pakistani and Indian legal experts. He said every issue between the two countries has also a legal dimension that should be addressed through established legal frameworks.

He maintained that India’s actions were also in violation of the United Nations Charter and called for resolving disputes through legal and diplomatic channels.