‘Water Cannot Be a Weapon’: Shehbaz Raises Indus Waters Row at SCO as India Rejects Hague Ruling

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised the Indus Waters dispute with India during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Sharif said water is a vital resource and should not be used as a political or strategic weapon. His remarks came shortly after India rejected a ruling by the Hague-based Court of Arbitration concerning the Indus Waters Treaty.

Sharif Raises Water Issue at SCO

During his speech, Sharif stressed the importance of respecting international agreements and said shared water resources should not become a source of conflict. Pakistan has repeatedly described the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 as an important framework for managing the waters of the Indus river system between the two countries.

Sharif argued that water is directly connected to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, particularly those dependent on agriculture. He called for international agreements to be implemented in accordance with their original provisions and spirit.

India Rejects Hague Tribunal Ruling

The Pakistani prime minister's comments came after India rejected the latest proceedings of the Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Pakistan has welcomed the tribunal's position on the treaty, while India has refused to recognise the proceedings.

New Delhi has maintained that the tribunal does not have jurisdiction over the matter and has described the process as legally invalid. India has also made it clear that it does not accept the tribunal's authority in the dispute.

The disagreement over the Indus Waters Treaty has become another major point of tension between India and Pakistan. India announced that it was keeping the treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, citing security concerns and the changing circumstances between the two countries.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has continued to demand that the treaty remain operational and has taken the issue to international forums.

Diplomatic Dispute Continues

Sharif's remarks at the SCO summit indicate that Pakistan intends to keep highlighting the Indus water issue at international and regional platforms. India, on the other hand, continues to reject the arbitration process and maintains its position on the treaty.

The latest development adds another layer to already strained India-Pakistan relations. With both sides maintaining sharply different positions, the Indus Waters dispute is likely to remain an important diplomatic issue in the coming months.