By Fakhar-e-Alam PESHAWAR, Jul 05 (APP):Along the winding banks of the Indus River, where centuries-old riverine forests have long sheltered wildlife, sustained fishing communities, and protected fertile farmland, growing concerns are emerging over the future of one of Pakistan's most valuable ecological treasures amid Indus Water Treaty (IWT) prolonged violations by India. Environmental and forest experts warned that illegal abeyance of IWT by India could significantly reduce freshwater flows into …
India’s IWT violations threaten Sindh’s Riverine Forests, millions of livelihoods
By Fakhar-e-Alam
PESHAWAR, Jul 05 (APP):Along the winding banks of the Indus River, where centuries-old riverine forests have long sheltered wildlife, sustained fishing communities, and protected fertile farmland, growing concerns are emerging over the future of one of Pakistan’s most valuable ecological treasures amid Indus Water Treaty (IWT) prolonged violations by India.
Environmental and forest experts warned that illegal abeyance of IWT by India could significantly reduce freshwater flows into Sindh, placing the province’s riverine and mangroves forests under increasing environmental stress and threatening the livelihoods of millions who depend on the Indus Delta.
Stretching across the coastal districts of Badin, Thatta, Sujawal and Karachi, the Indus Delta covers a tidal belt of nearly 270 kilometres. Its unique ecosystem depends on a steady supply of freshwater from the Indus River to sustain riverine forests, mangroves, fisheries and agriculture by running economic cycle.
Experts feared that any prolonged reduction in river flows could accelerate ecological degradation, increase seawater intrusion and intensify the effects of climate change.
Speaking to APP, former Conservator of Forests, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gulzar Rehman said riverine forests in Sindh are among the country’s most productive natural ecosystems and are increasingly vulnerable due to declining freshwater availability due to IWT violations by fascist Modi Govt who went against UN Charter and World Bank guarantee.
“These forests are not only an important source of timber and fuelwood but also serve as major carbon sinks, regulate local climate, conserve biodiversity and support thousands of families dependent on fishing, livestock and agriculture,” he said.
The IWT, signed in 1960 by Pakistan’s President Field Marshal Ayub Khan and India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru with the World Bank as guarantor, allocated the waters of the western rivers namely Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan, while India received rights over the eastern rivers Ravi, Sutlej and Beas.
According to Gulzar Rehman, any disruption in the implementation of the historic treaty has direct ecological and economic consequences downstream.
“The loss of freshwater inflows will significantly reduce the natural regeneration of riverine and mangroves forests, weaken their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and diminish habitats for wildlife, fish and migratory birds,” he said.
He explained that the Sindh forest department manages approximately 241,198 hectares of riverine forests, locally known as Kacho forests, spread along both banks of the Indus River in districts Thatta, Hyderabad, Dadu, Larkana, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Khairpur, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Ghotki and Jacobabad. These forests have been declared Reserved Forests under the Forest Act, 1927.
Besides producing timber, firewood and grazing resources, the ravarian forests provide habitat for countless plant and animal species, support honey production and fisheries, protect riverbanks from erosion and help slow floodwaters during the monsoon season.
“The annual flooding of the Indus acts as a lifeline for these forests. Without regular inundation, natural regeneration becomes increasingly difficult and population of wildlife, fisheries and humans are affected,” Gulzar observed.
Dr. Mumtaz Malik, former Secretary Environment and Wildlife Chief Conservator said that reduced freshwater reaching the Guddu and Kotri barrages could have negative consequences for the Indus Delta.
“As seawater pushes further inland, agricultural lands may suffer from increased salinity and waterlogging, reducing crop yields and threatening food security in coastal communities.”
The shrinking freshwater flows could also endanger globally significant species, including the endangered Indus River dolphin, while placing additional pressure on the fragile mangrove forests that serve as natural barriers against cyclones, coastal erosion and storm surges.
Communities living across the delta rely heavily on fishing, farming and livestock for their survival.
Dr Mumtaz Malik cautioned that further ecological decline could deepen poverty, trigger displacement and undermine climate resilience in one of Pakistan’s most vulnerable regions as India was trying to create reign of hunger and starvation in Pakistan.
He said IWT violations will not only affect ravarian and mangroves forests but it will damage bela forests in KP and Punjab provinces.
These depletion of forest resources will decrease chances of rains and snowfalls but will affect food chain significantly in the region.
Condemning the Indian Govt’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance unilaterally, he argued that the illegal move undermines international law, threatens regional stability and raises serious concerns over water security for millions of people dependent on the Indus River system.
He said access to water is recognized internationally as a fundamental human right, and any attempt to restrict or politicize water resources could have far-reaching humanitarian consequences.
The United Nations has explicitly recognized access to water as a basic human right essential for the full enjoyment of people’s lives and all other human rights,” he said.
“Restricting river water flows to a lower riparian state raises serious legal and humanitarian concerns because it directly affects the rights to life, health and an adequate standard of living of millions of people.”
He maintained that India’s uncalled for decision to place the IWT in abeyance after the April 2025 Pahalgam incident was inconsistent with the principles of the United Nations Charter, World Bank guarantee and international treaty obligations.
Instead of utilizing the dispute resolution mechanisms provided under the treaty, India had attempted to link water cooperation with broader political and security disputes that will put peace of the subcontinent into jeopardy.
The treaty already contains comprehensive procedures for addressing disagreements through bilateral discussions, neutral experts and international arbitration. Bypassing these solid mechanisms weakens confidence in international agreements besides shows India disregard for global treaties.
He further observed that restrictions on water resources disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, particularly women, children and rural populations whose livelihoods largely depend on agriculture, fisheries, forests, water and livestock.
International law expert Noman Bokhari advocate said water and food are universally recognized as essential human necessities under UN charter and should never be used as political weapons against others. “India’s claim of keeping the treaty in abeyance is provocative and raises significant legal questions,” he said.
“Under international law, treaties generally remain in force unless they are lawfully terminated, suspended by mutual agreement or materially breached in accordance with recognized legal principles.”
He said the IWT was designed in such a manner to survive political crises and military conflicts between the two neighboring countries.
Former Chairman of the Department of International Relations at the University of Peshawar, Professor Dr Ejaz Khan, said the treaty remains internationally recognized and cannot be unilaterally suspended by either party. He referred to recent proceedings before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, noting that Pakistan has all rights to pursue legal remedies available under the treaty framework.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that disputes should be resolved through the mechanisms already provided in the treaty rather than through unilateral actions and using water as a weapon,” he said.
Dr Ejaz warned that attempts to use water as a political tool could create dangerous precedents in international relations.
“If the so-called principle that an upper riparian state can unilaterally suspend water-sharing arrangements gains acceptance, it could have negative implications far beyond South Asia and potentially influence other international river disputes,” he observed. He added that climate change, increasing water scarcity and growing populations make adherence to established water-sharing agreements more important than ever.
They warned that prolonged uncertainty regarding water cooperation could adversely affect agricultural productivity, ravarian forests, food security and rural livelihoods. Environmental consequences could also emerge, including reduced freshwater flows affecting wetlands, mangrove forests, fisheries and biodiversity.
Various species such as the endangered Indus River dolphin and indigenous masher fish populations depend upon maintaining healthy river ecosystems and these species will likely to be vanished if frash river water was blocked.
The experts further argued that procedural issues such as delays in data sharing, reduced technical cooperation and prolonged disputes over water infrastructure by India could weaken confidence-building measures established under the treaty over several decades.
“Our objective is not confrontation but compliance with international commitments. Treaties are intended to provide certainty and stability, particularly during periods of political tension,” he said.
The experts unanimously stressed that, at a time when climate change is intensifying water scarcity across South Asia, preserving internationally recognized mechanisms for transboundary water cooperation is essential for regional peace, sustainable development and the welfare of millions of people dependent on the Indus Basin.
They expressed the hope that international community will think beyond trade and put pressure on fascist Modi Govt to restore IWT imperative for peace and life of millions of people in the region.
The experts stressed that safeguarding the Indus River’s natural flow is essential not only for protecting forests and wildlife but also for preserving the economic security, environmental sustainability and cultural heritage of the millions of people whose lives remain inseparably linked to the mighty Indus.
