Islamabad Explores World Bank, ICJ, and UNSC Avenues Amid Escalating Bilateral Tensions
Key Takeaways:
1. Legal Multi-Pronged Strategy: Pakistan is pursuing international arbitration, ICJ litigation, and potential UN Security Council intervention to counter India’s suspension.
2. Economic and Security Fallout: Islamabad has halted trade and airspace access, escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
3. Agricultural Imperative: The treaty governs 80% of Pakistan’s irrigated agriculture, making its defense critical for food security amid climate-induced water shortages.
Money Matters Monitoring — Pakistan is preparing to challenge India’s unilateral suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty through international legal forums, including the World Bank, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Law Minister Ahmad Malik confirmed. The move follows India’s decision last week to halt the treaty’s implementation, citing Pakistan’s alleged involvement in a Kashmir-based attack that killed 26 people-a claim Islamabad vehemently denies.
Malik stated that consultations on legal strategies are nearing completion, with potential actions grounded in the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which prohibits unilateral termination of international agreements. “The treaty cannot be suspended without mutual consent. We are engaging all competent forums to protect Pakistan’s rights,” he told Reuters. Pakistan has also warned that disrupting its water share constitutes “an act of war,” while suspending bilateral trade and closing airspace to Indian flights.
The Indus Waters Treaty, mediated by the World Bank, allocates the Indus River system’s three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, which relies on them for 80% of its agriculture and hydropower. Despite three wars since 1947, the treaty remained intact until India’s recent suspension. Analysts note that India cannot immediately halt water flows due to treaty restrictions on dam storage but warn of long-term risks for Pakistan’s water-stressed farmers.
