Islamabad: Pakistan is preparing to initiate international legal proceedings against India over its suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and the country’s top legal body has formed a special committee to assist the government in this effort.
According to Reuters, Minister of State for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, told that Pakistan is currently working on at least three legal strategies. These include taking the matter to the World Bank — which brokered the 1960 treaty — as well as pursuing legal action at the Permanent Court of Arbitration or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Barrister Aqeel stated that Pakistan could argue India has violated the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. He added that consultations over the legal strategy are nearly complete and a decision will be made “soon” on which forum to approach, potentially involving multiple avenues.
New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty last week following an attack in the Pahalgam tourist area of Indian-administered Kashmir. India stated the suspension would remain in place until Pakistan "ceases support for cross-border terrorism." Islamabad has denied involvement in the attack and, in retaliation, has suspended all trade with India and closed its airspace to Indian airlines.
Barrister Aqeel also noted a fourth diplomatic option under consideration — raising the issue before the United Nations Security Council.
He emphasized that the treaty cannot be unilaterally suspended or terminated, stating, “There is no such provision in the agreement that allows for unilateral withdrawal.”
Legal experts and officials from both countries have stated that India cannot immediately block water flow under the treaty, which only allows limited hydroelectric projects without significant water storage on rivers allocated to Pakistan.
However, concerns are rising among farmers already affected by climate-induced water shortages, as the situation could deteriorate in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has formed a committee to provide legal support to the federal government in addressing the treaty issue at appropriate international forums. The committee is headed by SCBA Secretary Salman Mansoor and includes Barrister Sarfraz Metlo, Barrister M.H. Subhani, Advocate Hafiz Ahsan Khokhar, and Balochistan High Court Bar Association President Mir Attaullah Lango.
In a statement, the SCBA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting fundamental rights, honoring international agreements, and defending national sovereignty.
The statement stressed the Indus Waters Treaty is essential not just as a formal agreement but also for Pakistan’s survival and prosperity. It noted that the treaty, brokered by the World Bank, explicitly prohibits unilateral termination, suspension, or withdrawal by any signatory.
Nevertheless, India has violated international law by suspending the agreement unilaterally. The SCBA condemned the move as an unjustified attempt to disrupt downstream water flow.
