SRINAGAR: Pakistan will approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if India suspends the 58-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the country’s top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday, insisting that the revocation of the treaty can be taken as an “act of war”.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs said any violation of IWT from India would pertain to considerable risk of war and hostilities between the two countries.
“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 National Assembly in response to a calling attention notice on Tuesday.
The House also unanimously passed a resolution condemning “falsified Indian claim in United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) about Kashmir being integral part of India.”
He criticised Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s speech in UNGA on Monday for “drawing parallels between Jammu and Kashmir, a recognised disputed territory and Balochistan, an integral part of sovereign Pakistan.”
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Aziz claimed India was under pressure “due to our diplomatic efforts” and raising the Kashmir issue on international stage.
He explained the provisions of IWT, saying as per sub provision 3 and 4 of provisions of Article 12 of IWT, the treaty could not be altered or revoked unilaterally, adding that the World Bank had facilitated the treaty and its role is defined in the treaty in case of violation by any party.
However, Express Tribune quoting a senior politician Shireen Mazari said claim was baseless. “None of the provisions in the Treaty says the World Bank was guarantor of the treaty between the two countries, rather it was a facilitator.” Aziz confirmed Mazari’s assertion of the Bank’s role as a facilitator.
He said the treaty would continue to be in force until modified by both the countries after an understanding. “This treaty is for an indefinite period and binding. It is not time specific or event specific.”
Top Pak diplomat warned that if India tried to interrupt water flow into Pakistan as an upper riparian it would not only violate the Treaty but also set a regional state practice under which an international law can serve as precedence for others.
“Such an Indian act may also provide China with a justification to consider suspension of water of Indian river Brahmaputra.”
Aziz said the Treaty survived wars of 1965 and 1971 between Pakistan and India, and was not even suspended during Kargil and Siachin conflicts. “The treaty is quoted as most successful water treaty between the two countries and its revocation can be taken as an act of war or a hostile act against Pakistan.”
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