Advisor Warns Against Weaponising Water: A Dire Threat to Global Peace and Sustainability

Weaponising Water is fast becoming one of the most alarming global threats to peace, sustainability, and international law. Speaking at the Rome Water Dialogue convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Italy, Dr. Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, issued a powerful warning against the politicization of shared water resources.

Dr. Shah emphasized that any unilateral manipulation of transboundary water flows constitutes a serious breach of international norms, threatening not only environmental balance but also human survival.

“Any attempt to unilaterally alter transboundary water flows or weaponize water access is not only dangerous, but contrary to international norms and sustainable development goals,” he said.

Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah’s Powerful Address in Rome

Representing Pakistan at the FAO’s Rome Water Dialogue, which gathered delegates from over 100 countries, development experts, and civil society leaders, Dr. Shah’s speech resonated deeply with concerns over regional and global water governance.

He highlighted that India’s unilateral actions regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)—a landmark 1960 agreement between Pakistan and India—pose a direct threat to the spirit of international cooperation.

“The Indus Waters Treaty has long been considered a model of cooperation, even during times of conflict between Pakistan and India,” he noted. “However, India’s recent unilateral actions to suspend treaty-level engagements risk undermining this crucial framework.”

Indus Waters Treaty: A Model of Cooperation Under Strain

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, is often hailed as one of the world’s most resilient transboundary water-sharing frameworks. For over six decades, it has ensured cooperation between two rival nations, dividing the use of six major rivers of the Indus Basin.

However, as Dr. Shah cautioned, unilateral interpretations and suspension of bilateral mechanisms threaten to dismantle decades of trust and stability.

He urged the international community to uphold the integrity of this treaty, stressing that the weaponisation of water risks transforming a resource of life into an instrument of conflict.

“No nation has the moral or legal right to hold another’s water security hostage,” Dr. Shah asserted.

Global Implications of Water Weaponisation

Experts warn that using water as a geopolitical weapon sets a dangerous precedent with implications far beyond South Asia. If powerful nations manipulate river flows for strategic leverage, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—especially SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)—could become unattainable.

Dr. Shah underlined that climate change, population pressures, and rapid urbanization already strain global water systems. Turning rivers into political battlegrounds would intensify resource insecurity, migration crises, and potential armed conflicts.

He reminded delegates that water is not merely a natural resource—it is a lifeline, connecting people, cultures, and ecosystems.

“Water is not just about rivers or canals — it is about people, dignity, and life itself,” he said passionately.

Call for International Cooperation and Water Justice

Dr. Shah appealed to global leaders, development organizations, and international institutions to act as guardians of peace and justice in transboundary water management.

He emphasized the need to reaffirm treaty integrity, promote river basin cooperation, and ensure equitable water justice for all nations—particularly those like Pakistan, where over 250 million people depend on the Indus Basin for their livelihoods, food security, and economic stability.

The United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997) offers an important legal framework to strengthen such cooperation. (Read more at UN Watercourses Convention)

Sustainable Development Goals and Water Security

Dr. Shah linked his remarks to the UN 2030 Agenda, noting that progress toward SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is impossible without addressing transboundary water conflicts.

He underscored that Pakistan’s water crisis is not just environmental but existential, warning that without fair access and responsible governance, regional stability and food production are at grave risk.

To achieve global water sustainability, Dr. Shah urged:

• Investment in cross-border water monitoring and data sharing.
• Encouragement of joint river basin institutions.
• Climate-resilient infrastructure for drought and flood management.
• Integration of science-based water diplomacy in international negotiations.

An insightful analysis of Pakistan’s water challenges can be found at Climate Diplomacy Pakistan Section.

Conclusion: Safeguarding Rivers, Peace, and Humanity

As the Rome Water Dialogue concluded, Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah’s warning echoed across international corridors: Weaponising water undermines humanity’s shared destiny.

He reminded the global audience that treaties like the Indus Waters Treaty must remain sacrosanct—shielded from political manipulation and guided by principles of justice and cooperation.

The advisor’s powerful message reinforced Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable water governance, peaceful dispute resolution, and global solidarity in protecting rivers that sustain billions of lives.

“Let us act as stewards of peace and justice — to ensure that transboundary treaties remain sacrosanct,” Dr. Shah concluded.

In an era marked by climate uncertainty and geopolitical tension, his statement serves as a wake-up call for the world: The weaponisation of water is not just a policy failure — it is a moral failure that humanity cannot afford.