Gilani Says No Party Can Unilaterally Alter Indus Waters Treaty, Warns Blocking Pakistan’s Water Would Be an Act of War

Islamabad, 2 November 2026: Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan will never compromise on its water rights, sovereignty or national interests. Speaking as chief guest at the sixth Pakistan Water Week 2026, he said the Indus Waters Treaty remains a binding international agreement and that no party can unilaterally alter, suspend or revoke its provisions.

Warning on water flows

Gilani said any attempt to block, suspend or divert Pakistan’s legitimate share of water would amount to an act of war and invite a direct response. He did not name a specific country in the remarks as reported. Other coverage of the speech says he reiterated that the treaty remained valid and binding and that water must never be used as an instrument of pressure.

A national water strategy

Highlighting Pakistan’s growing water challenges, Gilani called for a comprehensive national strategy covering:

• water conservation,
• climate resilience,
• disaster preparedness,
• modern irrigation systems, and
• stronger institutional coordination.

He said equitable water distribution, effective implementation of the 1991 Water Accord and National Water Policy 2018, and stronger federal-provincial cooperation are essential for national unity and sustainable development.

Parliament’s role

Gilani pledged parliamentary support through legislation, oversight and budgetary allocations, and said Parliament must make sure water policies lead to practical improvements for farming communities and people facing floods and shortages. He also stressed that reliable water data-sharing builds trust among the provinces, and urged participants to judge their commitments by the impact on ordinary citizens, including farmers in Thar, families along the Ravi and children in Quetta without clean drinking water.

He called for collective national efforts to make Pakistan a water-secure and flood-resilient nation by 2047, the centenary of its independence.

Background: Pakistan Water Week 2026

The sixth Pakistan Water Week runs in Islamabad from 2 to 6 November under the theme “Commitments to Action: Advancing Water Security and Achieving Climate-Resilient Food Systems in Pakistan.” It is organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources and the Ministry of Water Resources. More than 200 participants are attending. Topics include groundwater management, irrigation reforms, climate financing, Pakistan’s preparations for COP31, artificial intelligence, digital twins and cryosphere risks in the Upper Indus Basin.

Background: the Indus Waters Treaty dispute

On 23 April 2025, following the Pahalgam attack, India announced it would hold the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjured support for cross-border terrorism. On 31 August 2026, the Court of Arbitration, with the Permanent Court of Arbitration as its secretariat, issued an award finding that none of India’s reasons justified suspending or terminating the treaty. The court also ordered interim limits on construction at the Ratle hydroelectric plant.

India rejected the court’s jurisdiction, calling it illegally constituted, refused to appear, and said it maintains its decision to hold the treaty in abeyance. The two governments therefore hold opposing positions, and the ruling has not ended the dispute.

Conclusion

Gilani’s remarks at Pakistan Water Week combined a firm position on the Indus Waters Treaty with a domestic agenda on conservation, irrigation, flood preparedness and federal-provincial cooperation. With the legal and political dispute over the treaty unresolved, water security is likely to stay high on Pakistan’s agenda. The week’s sessions, running until 6 November, will show how the discussion moves from commitments to action.