IWT is lifeline of country, says JI
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami's Sindh chapter on Thursday declared that any tampering with the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India would be seen an act of war.
Speaking on Thursday, Kashif Saeed Shaikh, JI Sindh Chief emphasised that the treaty is a lifeline for Pakistan, particularly Sindh, and warned India against weaponizing water.
The JI Sindh leader noted that acute water shortages are turning agricultural lands barren. He said that the lack of water released downstream from Kotri has led to approximately five million acres of farmland in Thatta, Sujawal, and Badin Districts being lost to the sea. This water scarcity is disrupting human life and aquatic ecosystems, forcing hundreds to migrate, he said.
Citing the World Bank, Shaikh noted that the Indus Waters Treaty, a bilateral agreement, cannot be unilaterally suspended or terminated and requires mutual consent for any changes.
He condemned India's threats to violate or suspend the treaty as 'water terrorism' and a declaration of war. He accused India of past violations by constructing hydroelectric projects on rivers flowing into Pakistan, reducing water supply in breach of international law and the treaty.
He concluded that India's actions aim to transform Pakistan's agricultural lands into barren deserts, describing this as a clear act of water aggression.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Bilawal slams Indian aggression at Chatham House, calls for global action
A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, engages with members of British think tank, academia, and policymaking community at the Chatham House in London on June 9, 2025. PHOTO: PPP Media Cell/X Listen to article A Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, met with British think tanks and policymakers at Chatham House in London on Monday. Chatham House is the UK's leading think tank, focusing on foreign and security policy issues. Bilawal and other members of the delegation presented Pakistan's perspective on the recent tensions in South Asia, expressing deep concern over India's unprovoked military aggression. 'India's unprovoked military actions pose a serious threat to regional stability,' he said. He added that India's actions are a clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, international law, and the United Nations Charter. The delegation emphasised that Pakistan's armed forces, with the full support of the people, gave a strong response to Indian aggression. They further stated that the Pakistani military successfully thwarted India's attempts to establish a new so-called "normal" in the region. A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by former Foreign Minister and Chairman Pakistan's People Party, @BBhuttoZardari, engages with eminent members of British think tank, academia, and policymaking community at the prestigious @ChathamHouse in London. Read More:… — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 9, 2025 Bilawal strongly condemned India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that weaponising water violates international norms and sets a dangerous precedent. He urged the international community to take notice of this alarming development and hold India accountable for its actions. He also highlighted that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains a core obstacle to lasting peace and stability in the region. Bilawal called on the global community to support meaningful dialogue and ensure adherence to international commitments and respect for human rights. The delegation included Musadik Malik, Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, Khurram Dastgir, Faisal Sabzwari, Bushra Anjum Butt, Jalil Abbas Jilani, and Tehmina Janjua. Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Mohammad Faisal, was also present during the roundtable conference.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's high-level multi party delegation arrives in London
The nine-member high level parliamentary delegation led by former Foreign Minister and Chairman Pakistan People's Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has arrived in London after completing successful visits to Washington and New York, Radio Pakistan reported. The delegation has been appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to project Pakistan's position on the recent clash with India and highlight the need for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The other members of the delegation include Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Masood Malik; Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and former Minister for Information and Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman; Chairperson, National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar; former Minister for Commerce, Defence and Foreign Affairs, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan; MQM's Parliamentary Leader in the Senate and former Minister for Maritime Affairs, Senator Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari; and Senator Bushra Anjum Butt. The delegation also includes two former Foreign Secretaries, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani, who also served as Caretaker Foreign Minister, and Ambassador Tehmina Janjua. In London, the delegation will hold meetings with the senior leadership of the UK Parliament, including All Parties Parliamentary Groups on Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir. They will also meet with leadership and senior officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The delegation members would extensively engage with leading think tanks and international media to highlight Pakistan's efforts for regional peace. During their visit, the delegation will highlight Pakistan's responsible and restrained conduct – seeking peace with responsibility – in the face of India's reckless and belligerent actions in violation of international law. They will also highlight that dialogue and diplomacy should take precedence over conflict and confrontation. The delegation will underscore the imperative for the international community to play its due role in promoting a lasting peace in South Asia. The need for immediate resumption of the normal functioning of the Indus Waters Treaty will also be a key theme of the delegation's outreach.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan delegation visits UK after New York talks on India conflict
Listen to article A high-level Pakistani delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has arrived in the United Kingdom following what officials described as "successful" diplomatic engagements in New York over last month's military standoff with India. The nine-member group held talks with United Nations representatives, diplomats from member states and senior US officials in an effort to present Pakistan's narrative on the recent India-Pakistan conflict and advocate for peace in South Asia. Wrapped up a pivotal peace mission leading Pakistan's high-level delegation in New York @PakistanUN_NY @PakinNY and Washington DC @PakinUSA. Grateful to Team Pakistan, your dedication was critical to our success. We stood for dialogue, dignity, and a just future. Truth and… — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 7, 2025 The latest military escalation between the India and Pakistan was triggered by an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on April 22, when 26 civilians were killed in Pahalgam. India blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the attack, calling it terrorism—an accusation strongly denied by Islamabad. The claim led to Indian military strikes inside Pakistan, sparking days of intense cross-border hostilities between the two neighbours. READ MORE: Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos: Pakistan counters India's Operation Sindoor 'Our message was clear – Pakistan seeks peace and wants all issues, including the Kashmir dispute and the Indus Waters Treaty, resolved through dialogue,' former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, a member of the delegation, said in London. Speaking to a local news channel, lawmaker Khurram Dastgir stressed the regional impact of the water dispute and called for the restoration of the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty, which India suspended in April. 'We explained to US officials that India's suspension of the treaty endangers the livelihood of 240 million people and undermines the region's stability,' he said. Dastgir stressed that the water dispute is a matter of survival for Pakistan, asserting the country would not compromise on it. He pointed out that the Americans initially assumed the ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump required no further involvement. "Our mission was to make them understand that intervention is necessary as India wants neither a neutral inquiry nor talks," Dastgir said. Senator Sherry Rehman, another member of the group, said the focus of the mission was to advocate for peace and ensure the water treaty and Kashmir issue remain on the international agenda. In the UK, the delegation is expected to meet senior British officials to highlight Pakistan's stance on the conflict and its broader implications. British foreign secretary David Lammy recently visited both Islamabad and New Delhi following the ceasefire. 'We want stability, but recognise the fragility of the situation, particularly in the context of terrorism,' Lammy said, referring to concerns over security in the region. He did not disclose details of discussions with Indian leaders. Also read: South Asia at brink over Kashmir and Indus Water Treaty, Bilawal warns US lawmakers Islamabad maintains that New Delhi is denying Kashmiris their right to self-determination and has urged India to implement UN Security Council resolutions. India, in turn, accuses Pakistan of supporting armed militants in the region – a charge Pakistan denies. Earlier, Bilawal urged Donald Trump to mediate efforts to ease escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. In an interview with AFP, the former foreign minister called on Washington to push New Delhi towards comprehensive talks with Islamabad. While noting Pakistan's willingness to discuss terrorism, Bilawal said the Kashmir dispute must remain central to any meaningful dialogue. Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who is leading a multi-party delegation to the US tells AFP in an interview that India's so-called 'new normal' is very dangerous for the region and the world because by removing the onus of providing proof the Indians have sharply… — omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) June 6, 2025 Read more: India laying ground for 'first nuclear water war', says Bilawal He cautioned against India's use of terrorism as a pretext for military escalation, warning that such actions threaten regional stability and endanger the lives of over 1.7 billion people in South Asia. Speaking separately to Chinese media, Bilawal accused India of undermining peace through unilateral actions and cross-border aggression. He also encouraged the Pakistani diaspora in the US to unite in promoting peace and contributing to mutual progress.
