Geneva: International experts and human rights advocates attending a conference alongside the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) supported India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, asserting that the agreement must be evaluated through the lens of security, human rights, and the water rights of local populations reliant on the Indus River basin.

The symposium, hosted by Indian non-governmental organisation Shivi Development Society (SDS), was titled “Community Water Rights & the Imperative to Keep the Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance.” The gathering convened panellists to address transboundary river management, indigenous rights, regional security dynamics, and the broader ramifications of the 1960 pact.

Dr Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at the South Asia Democratic Forum in Brussels, stated that India acted within its sovereign authority when requesting a review of the accord. He maintained that, based on his evaluation, Pakistan’s actions had undermined the “object, purpose and spirit” of the agreement.

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Wolf highlighted structural imbalances inherent in the treaty, pointing to water allocation ratios, India's financial inputs to the Indus Development Fund, constraints on storage infrastructure, and repeated legal objections raised over Indian hydroelectric developments, including the Baglihar, Kishenganga, and Ratle projects.

Addressing Pakistan’s objections regarding Indian developments on western rivers, Wolf dismissed claims that India was "blocking" river flows, characterising the charge as an "engineering myth." He explained that run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants are largely non-consumptive and return water downstream following power generation. He added that Pakistan's water scarcity stems significantly from internal causes, such as agricultural inefficiencies, landownership structures, rapid urbanisation, and deteriorating canal networks.

London-based human rights campaigner Arif Aajakia emphasised that access to clean water constitutes a basic human right, voicing worry over internal resource allocation in Pakistan, notably within Sindh province. He further tied the treaty debate to broader national security challenges between India and Pakistan.

Mamun Rahman, a Geneva-based human rights analyst with the International Forum for Secular Bangladesh, urged greater international scrutiny of resource distribution inside Pakistan, highlighting the grievances of populations in Sindh and Balochistan. He argued that cross-border water management must consider the social and economic consequences experienced by border communities in both nations.

In a pre-recorded video address, Lakhu Luvana, Chairperson of the World Sindhi Congress, stated that the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan have harboured long-standing complaints regarding the control and sharing of natural resources, including water, noting these disputes transcend the mechanics of any single bilateral accord.

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The panel was presided over by Narender Kumar, Executive Director of the Shivi Development Society. Kumar urged that discourse surrounding the treaty move beyond simple bilateral politics to prioritise the rights and survival needs of populations dependent on the Indus basin.

“The question of keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is not only about a bilateral agreement between two countries. It is also about recognising the rights and legitimate water needs of local communities that depend on the Indus River system, including communities in India,” Kumar said.

He insisted that human rights principles, fair access to natural resources, grassroots participation, and sustainable ecological stewardship must guide future deliberations over shared river systems.

ANI