ISSI seminar titled ‘Weaponising Water’: ‘Future wars would likely be fought over water’
ISLAMABAD: Former diplomats and eminent legal experts have warned that future wars will likely be fought over water, as only 0.3 per cent of the world’s surface water is usable.
They characterised India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as a form of “environmental terrorism” and highlighted the growing risks of drought and floods in Pakistan.
They noted that legal and military options are limited, and called for a robust media and diplomatic campaign to expose India’s unilateralism.
The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the Centre for Law and Security (CLAS), hosted a joint seminar titled, “Weaponising Water: The Indus Waters Treaty and Future of Regional Stability.”
The seminar brought together eminent experts, diplomats, legal scholars, and policymakers to discuss the deteriorating regional water security landscape in the aftermath of India’s unilateral and illegal holding of the IWT “in abeyance”.
DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood stated that the weaponisation of water is a grave regional threat, particularly, following India’s unilateral and illegal step to hold the IWT “in abeyance”. He linked India’s actions to the ideological underpinnings of the BJP-RSS, manifest in the notions of Hindu Rashtra and Akhand Bharat. He described this as part of New Delhi’s so-called “muscular” approach and pan-securitisation of the India-Pakistan relationship.
He highlighted that India’s blockage of water and construction of several dams in the past years had not only violated the Treaty terms but also affected ecosystems and endangered the lives of millions. His key recommendation was for Pakistan to anchor its response in international law and diplomacy.
He urged the government to engage all relevant multilateral forums, mobilise water-stressed nations, and work closely with other regional stakeholders like China and South Asian states having trans-boundary rivers with India.
He called for strengthened water governance internally and greater focus on the National Water Policy 2018 for enhanced water security.
Former president AJK and senior diplomat, Ambassador Masood Khan underlined that India has carefully timed its actions, building a cascade of dams that give it strategic advantage. He warned that Pakistan’s legal position needs to be firmly grounded in international principles. He pointed out potential obstacles in bringing India to arbitration, including provisions in the Vienna Convention and India’s ability to avoid ICJ jurisdiction on issues related to Commonwealth nations.
Ambassador Masood recommended Pakistan to apply pressure through the World Bank, the UN Security Council, and key powers like the P5. He called for an assertive international campaign, while also urging Pakistan to maximise domestic water efficiency. Ultimately, Pakistan must choose between maintaining the status quo or pursuing a high-risk, proactive approach to safeguard its water future.
Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel highlighted the crucial link between Kashmir and water, emphasising that Pakistan’s rivers flow through the disputed region. He reminded that the IWT was not a water-sharing agreement but a river division arrangement heavily influenced by Indian demands.
India, he claimed, enjoys uncontested control over the eastern rivers, while seeking to maximise its use of the western ones while ignoring Treaty constraints. Former Federal Water and Power, Ashfaq Mahmood focused on the strategic objectives behind India’s moves, arguing that India seeks to both hegemonise water and prevent third-party involvement by insisting on bilateralism. He underscored the dangerous narrative linking terrorism with water rights.
Ashfaq recommended a stronger legal posture from Pakistan, including strict enforcement of the IWT and referral to the Court of Arbitration. He called for improved water data collection, climate-related research, and internal technical preparedness. Most importantly, he urged Pakistan to compel India to be transparent about the demographic and climate factors it cites and to push for structured dialogue.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025