Pakistan to take India’s unilateral revocation of IWT as ‘act of war’

PM’S ADVISER SAYS INDIA ISN’T FOLLOWING OPTION OF REVOKING TREATY BUT IS TRYING TO USE ITS PROVISIONS TO CONSTRUCT RUN-OF-THE-RIVER PROJECTS AZIZ WARNS PAKISTAN WILL APPROACH ICJ, P5 STATES IF INDIA VIOLATES TREATY

AMIDST reports that India has set afoot plans for accelerating construction of new hydropower projects along three rivers that flow into Pakistan, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said Tuesday India cannot revoke the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) unilaterally, adding that its revocation will be considered “an act of war” against Pakistan.

“Pakistan will not accept Indian aggression in any form and any Indian step for disrupting water flow as upper riparian will pertain to considerable risk of war and hostilities,” the adviser said in the Senate in response to a calling-attention notice moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Shireen Mazari and others. According to Aziz, the Indus Waters Treaty – an international agreement/document signed by Pakistan and India – can only be revoked mutually rather than unilaterally.

“There is no provision of suspension in the treaty,” he said, adding, “If India tries to interrupt water flow into Pakistan, it will not only violate the Indus Water Treaty, but also set a regional state practice under which international law can be served as a precedent. It will provide China, for example, a justification to consider suspension of waters of the Brahmaputra river.” According to Pakistan’s assessments, Aziz said, India was not following the option of revoking the treaty but was trying to use provisions of the treaty to construct run-of-the-river projects. “It is possible India will misuse these provisions by constructing structures which are not allowed under the treaty,” he added.

The PM’s adviser said Pakistan was gaining support of the international community on the issue and was considering briefing the P5 countries (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and United States), World Bank and international community about the dangers of suspending the treaty.

He also warned that Pakistan could approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if India violated the treaty.

Recalling that the IWT was not suspended even during wars between the two countries, Aziz said the treaty was binding on both the countries and there was no provision of unilateral exist. He said the treaty was quoted as most successful water treaty between the two countries and its revocation could be taken as an act of war or a hostile act against Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Aziz, while addressing the National Assembly, said that provocative statements and actions from the Indian leadership on the IWT were a violation of international laws and breach of the treaty.

Pakistan would ‘react befittingly’ if India attempted to violate the treaty, the adviser said.

Aziz made it clear that Pakistan would not accept any pressure from India and would continue highlighting human rights violations perpetrated by Indian forces in held Kashmir.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday decided to suspend Indus Water Commission talks until “Pakistan-sponsored terror” in India ends, according to Indian media reports.

Modi told officials that India should use more of the rivers’ resources, a foreign news agency reported, quoting sources familiar with the plans.