India cannot unilaterally revoke Indus Waters Treaty: Dr Memon
News Desk
Hyderabad: Renowned intellectual and water expert Dr Naseer Memon on Wednesday said that India cannot unilaterally revoke the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), terming any such move a violation of international law.
Talking to APP, he said the treaty contains no provision allowing either signatory to withdraw from the agreement on its own. “It is an outright violation of the treaty and international laws,” he maintained, adding that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fully aware that any abrogation of the treaty would be legally untenable.
Dr Memon said Pakistan was raising the matter at international forums and suggested that the platform of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) could also be utilised to highlight the issue.
He observed that India could not practically stop the flow of the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — allocated to Pakistan under the treaty. Explaining the geographical realities, he said the upper catchment of the Jhelum is a densely populated area, leaving little room for constructing large reservoirs to block water flows.
He further pointed out that a significant portion of the Indus River’s water originates from mountains and glaciers located within Pakistan’s territory, limiting India’s ability to exercise full control over the river.
However, he acknowledged that India could temporarily influence the flow of the Chenab River through its hydropower projects, which could potentially affect winter sowing in Pakistan. “Halting flows of Chenab can affect winter crops, but increased water flows would eventually neutralise such attempts,” he added.
Referring to recent floods, Dr Memon said the situation had demonstrated that India was unable to prevent even its eastern rivers from flowing into Pakistan.
He emphasised that Pakistan has a strong legal case under the Indus Waters Treaty and urged the government to pursue the matter vigorously at relevant international forums to safeguard its water rights.
