Water Security in Focus as CASS Hosts High-Level Debate on Indus Waters Treaty
Islamabad : The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) organised an online Catalyst Conversation titled ‘The Future of the Indus Waters Treaty’ on 2 July 2026. The event examined the legal, historical and strategic challenges surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and their implications for regional stability and water security. As an independent think tank, CASS regularly convenes such forums to promote informed dialogue on issues of national and international significance.
Moderating the session, Director CASS, Air Marshal Hamid Randhawa (Retd), highlighted key issues surrounding the future of the IWT, including responses to non-compliance. He noted that although the treaty has endured decades of conflict and political tensions, recent developments—such as India’s suspension of treaty obligations, growing hydro-infrastructure projects, and climate-related pressures—have created new challenges, necessitating renewed dialogue on water security and regional stability.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Mirza Asif Baig, Former Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters, presented a comprehensive assessment of the Treaty, its historical evolution and the challenges associated with its implementation. He highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding objections to the design and operational features of several Indian hydropower projects on the western rivers. Discussing the implementation of the Treaty, Mr Baig argued that India has consistently delayed the resolution of Pakistan’s objections by prolonging discussions while continuing construction of hydropower projects, thereby creating a fait accompli. He noted that despite the perception that the IWT functioned effectively even during periods of conflict, several projects were designed without due regard to treaty provisions. He observed that deliberations within the Permanent Indus Commission yielded little progress, forcing Pakistan to seek recourse through Neutral Expert and Court of Arbitration mechanisms, which are often time-consuming. He stressed that although the IWT is heavily tilted in India’s favour, it remains the only internationally recognised framework governing the shared river system.
In his concluding remarks, President CASS, Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed (Retd), observed that for more than six decades, the IWT has remained one of the world’s most resilient transboundary water-sharing agreements. However, he cautioned that recent developments indicate that India is increasingly holding the Treaty hostage to political considerations, thereby undermining a vital framework for regional stability and cooperative water management. Emphasising the strategic importance of water security, he urged Pakistan to make the issue a priority in its diplomatic and legal engagements, while strengthening international advocacy to safeguard the country’s water rights under the Treaty.
