Abdullah Jan
Islamabad: Philanthropist and Chair of the Institute of Research & Reforms (IRR), Ali Rehman Malik, has stressed the need to safeguard the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), describing it as a vital framework that keeps an existential resource outside the cycle of political escalation between states.
In a social media statement, Malik said the treaty was designed to ensure that water, a fundamental lifeline for Pakistan, remains insulated from geopolitical tensions. He cautioned that any weakening of trust in such agreements could have long-term consequences for regional stability and resource security.
“Water is not just another bargaining chip. It underpins agriculture, food security, economic stability, and the lives of millions,” he said, underscoring the treaty’s importance for Pakistan’s agrarian economy, which depends heavily on Indus basin irrigation systems.
He warned that the most serious risk is not only short-term pressure on water flows or allocations, but the gradual erosion of confidence in long-standing international agreements. Once trust in core resource-sharing arrangements is undermined, he noted, rebuilding it becomes significantly more difficult than maintaining it.
Pakistan’s economy remains deeply tied to the Indus river system, which supports a large portion of its agricultural output and rural livelihoods. The irrigation network fed by the Indus Basin is central to crops such as wheat, rice, cotton, and sugarcane, all critical to food security and export earnings.
Given this dependence, water governance has long been considered a matter of national strategic importance in Pakistan. Experts and policymakers have repeatedly emphasized that stability in water-sharing arrangements is essential not only for agricultural productivity but also for broader economic resilience.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered in 1960 between Pakistan and India under World Bank facilitation, has often been cited as one of the most durable water-sharing agreements in the world, surviving multiple periods of conflict and diplomatic strain between the two neighbours.
Malik noted that the treaty’s significance lies in its ability to prevent water from becoming a direct trigger for escalation, particularly during times of heightened political tension. He said maintaining the integrity of such frameworks is essential for preserving predictability in an otherwise volatile regional environment.
The IRR chair further emphasized the importance of continuous diplomatic engagement, technical cooperation, and institutional respect for treaty mechanisms. He argued that water security challenges in South Asia require collaboration rather than confrontation, especially in the context of climate variability, glacier melt, and growing population pressures.
He added that weakening confidence in established agreements could set a precedent that undermines other regional frameworks as well, making long-term cooperation increasingly difficult.
Malik reiterated that the Indus Waters Treaty should be viewed not merely as a legal document, but as a stabilizing pillar for Pakistan’s survival and economic continuity.