News world ‘Water Can’t Be Used As Weapon’: Shehbaz Sharif Raises Indus Treaty At SCO After India Rejects Hague Ruling
Last Updated:September 01, 2026, 14:08 IST
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said South Asia could not achieve lasting stability without peace and responsible management of shared resources.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif speaks at SCO Summit.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday raised the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) issue at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, calling water the “lifeline” of the region, saying it must never be used as a political weapon. Addressing the SCO Council of Heads of State, Sharif called for international agreements to be implemented in accordance with both their “spirit and wording” and stressed the need for regional cooperation in managing water resources.
“Water will not be allowed to be used as a weapon,” Sharif said, adding that water was a guarantee for the future of coming generations. He argued that using water for political purposes was unacceptable and said South Asia could not achieve lasting stability without peace and responsible management of shared resources.
Sharif’s remarks came a day after a Hague-based Court of Arbitration ruled that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remains legally binding and that the mechanism established under the treaty can continue to examine disputes between India and Pakistan. The ruling has been strongly rejected by New Delhi.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has described the Court of Arbitration as an “illegally constituted” body, saying it was created in breach of the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty. India has maintained that it never recognised the tribunal, did not participate in its proceedings and does not accept its jurisdiction.
New Delhi has also said that the court has “no jurisdiction whatsoever” to pronounce on India’s sovereign decisions. India has made clear that the tribunal’s present or future pronouncements will have no bearing on its actions concerning hydroelectric projects.
India has further maintained that its decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remains in force, despite the Hague-based tribunal’s position that the treaty continues to operate.
The dispute over the treaty has become another major flashpoint in already strained India-Pakistan ties. India put the treaty in abeyance following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.
Sharif used his SCO address to frame Pakistan’s position around diplomacy, international law and regional cooperation. He said Pakistan believed in the peaceful resolution of conflicts and had always emphasised diplomacy in dealing with regional crises.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s role in recent diplomatic efforts, saying Islamabad had played an effective role in promoting peace during a regional crisis and that its diplomatic efforts had contributed to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. He said Pakistan desired peace in Afghanistan and hoped the parties would implement the Islamabad Peace Agreement.
Sharif’s comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the SCO summit, where India put terrorism at the centre of its message.
PM Modi called for the SCO countries to take action against the entire ecosystem supporting terrorism, including terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens. He also warned against “double standards” in the fight against terrorism and said countries that provide shelter or support to terrorists must face a strong international message.
Beyond the India-Pakistan dispute, Sharif also spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, calling for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination to be respected.
He described Pakistan as an “active and responsible” member of the SCO and called the grouping an important platform for peace and stability.
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Ask News18What are the next steps for the Indus Waters Treaty dispute resolution?
The next steps for resolving the dispute include waiting for the final decision of the Neutral Expert, which is expected to be delivered in July 2027. India’s suspension of cooperation under the treaty is set to remain in place until 90 days after that final ruling is issued.
Could the Indus Waters Treaty issue escalate India-Pakistan tensions further?
The dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty could escalate tensions further, as Pakistan has warned it could resort to military action if its water security is threatened. Pakistan has also stated that any measures to stop its water flow would be viewed as an act of war, and its leadership has declared water access a red line that would invite a strong response. Meanwhile, India has argued the treaty is no longer operational due to continuing terrorism.
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Manoj Gupta
Group Editor, Investigations and Security Affairs, Network18
First Published:
September 01, 2026, 14:08 IST
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