Islamabad
\nThe Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) organised a Catalyst Conversation titled \u2018The Future of the Indus Waters Treaty,\u2019 on 22 June 2026. The event examined emerging challenges to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and their implications for international law, regional stability, and water security. As an independent think tank, CASS regularly convenes such forums to promote informed dialogue on issues of strategic significance.
\nAir Marshal Hamid Radhawa (Retd), Director CASS, moderated the session and highlighted key issues surrounding the future of the IWT, including its legal status, dispute-resolution mechanisms, prospects for modernisation, and responses to non-compliance.
\nHe noted that although the treaty has endured decades of conflict and political tensions, recent developments\u2014such as India\u2019s suspension of treaty obligations, growing hydro-infrastructure projects, and climate-related pressures\u2014have created new challenges, necessitating renewed dialogue on water security and regional stability.
\nIn his keynote address, Jamal Aziz, Executive Director, Research Society of International Law, examined the legal and strategic implications of India\u2019s April 2025 decision to place the IWT in abeyance, arguing that the move lacks a valid basis under both the Treaty and general international law.
\nHe outlined how the IWT\u2019s allocation framework, dispute-resolution mechanisms, and termination provisions collectively preclude unilateral suspension, while emphasising that customary international water law continues to impose obligations of equitable utilisation, cooperation, and the prevention of significant harm.
\nThe address reviewed recent arbitral developments, highlighting a series of rulings that have reinforced the Treaty\u2019s continued legal force and Pakistan\u2019s position as a lower riparian state. Looking beyond litigation, the speaker advocated a dual-track strategy combining legal engagement, diplomatic outreach, and domestic water-security reforms.
\nHe argued that Pakistan should leverage emerging international concerns surrounding climate security, transboundary water governance, and regional stability to build broader support for the restoration and modernisation of the Treaty framework.
\nIn his concluding remarks, President CASS, Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed (Retd), argued that India is effectively holding the IWT hostage to political considerations, undermining a critical framework for regional stability.
\nHe urged Pakistan to leverage its current moment in the international mediatory spotlight to raise the issue globally, mobilise diplomatic support, and reinforce the importance of adherence to international legal commitments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) organised a Catalyst Conversation titled \u2018The Future of the Indus Waters Treaty,\u2019 on 22 June 2026. The event examined emerging challenges to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and their implications for international law, regional stability, and water security. As an independent think tank, CASS regularly convenes …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":99472,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99458"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99480,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99458\/revisions\/99480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}