President Asif Ali Zardari has urged India to immediately restore full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, in line with its international obligations.
In his message on World Water Day, the president reaffirmed Pakistan's strong condemnation of India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty.
“This deliberate weaponisation of shared water resources is a matter of deep concern. India's decision to place the Treaty in abeyance, disrupt hydrological data-sharing, impede agreed mechanisms, and undermine both the letter and spirit of a long-standing international agreement that has governed equitable sharing of the Indus river system for over six decades,” he continued.
The tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty escalated when India put the treaty in abeyance following a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOK) in April 2025, in which 26 people were killed. Without any investigation, New Delhi accused Islamabad of orchestrating the attack, an allegation that Pakistan has firmly denied.
President Zardari said that such conduct threatens food and economic security, jeopardises the livelihoods of millions who depend on these waters, and sets a dangerous precedent for the management of transboundary resources under international law.
"World Water Day this year draws attention to the theme Water and Gender, reminding us that water insecurity is not experienced equally. Women and girls often carry the heaviest burden when safe water is not available close to home," the president added.
Highlighting the everyday challenges faced by millions in Pakistan, President Zardari drew attention to the unequal burden of water scarcity.
