PM Shehbaz Sharif at SCO: 'Water Must Never Be Weaponised' Amid Indus Waters Treaty Dispute

BISHKEK - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday delivered a powerful message at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, declaring that water must never be weaponised or used for political coercion, while emphasizing that treaties governing shared waters are binding international commitments .

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif speaks out on the Indus Waters Treaty — leaving India’s PM speechless! 🔥🇵🇰

“Water is the lifeblood of our region. It sustains millions, nourishes our lands, and secures our future.”

It must never be weaponized or used for political leverage.” pic.twitter.com/9bDeEXRbWo

- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) September 1, 2026

Addressing regional leaders in Kyrgyzstan, the Prime Minister framed the water issue as a matter of regional survival and warned against any attempts to exploit shared resources for political leverage.

'Lifeblood of Our Region'

In his address, PM Sharif stated: "Water is the lifeblood of our region that sustains millions of lives, nourishes our lands and secures the very future of our coming generations. It must never be weaponised or used for political coercion" .

He stressed that the treaties governing shared waters "are binding commitments that must be honoured unconditionally both in letter and spirit" and are "not matters of political convenience to be cast aside at your will" .

The Indus Waters Treaty Dispute

The Prime Minister's remarks come just days after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague issued a landmark ruling that India cannot unilaterally suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty .

The Hague court found that the treaty "remains fully in force" and that India must observe its obligations, rejecting every argument New Delhi used to justify suspending the agreement following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir .

The court also ordered India to halt construction work at the Ratle Hydroelectric Project until a neutral expert decides by July 2027 whether its design complies with the treaty .

India's Rejection of the Ruling

New Delhi has categorically rejected the PCA's ruling, calling the court "illegally constituted" and maintaining that India's decision to hold the treaty "in abeyance remains in force" .

India has maintained that it will only engage with Pakistan on the treaty if Islamabad "credibly and irrevocably" ends its alleged support for cross-border terrorism .

A Diplomatic Victory for Pakistan

Legal experts say the ruling strengthens Pakistan's diplomatic position, even if it lacks a clear enforcement mechanism . The decision provides Pakistan with a legal basis to raise the issue at international forums and explore further legal options .

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the ruling, stating that "India must fully comply with its obligations under the Treaty and with the binding decisions of its dispute settlement mechanisms" .