Washington (Shazia Nayyar) ; Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has written an opinion piece for Newsweek.

He was replying to an earlier article by India’s Ambassador, Vinay Kwatra, who said Pakistan had damaged the Indus Waters Treaty long before India put it on hold. Ambassador Sheikh said this is not true. He said these are the main points:

1. The treaty is not a favor. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960, after 10 years of talks with the help of the World Bank. It was not a gift from India to Pakistan. It was a proper legal deal between two countries.

Under this deal, India got full rights to use three eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Pakistan got rights over three western rivers – Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

2. Pakistan did not block India’s projects. The treaty allows India to build hydropower projects on the western rivers, but with some rules. Pakistan only asked questions about the design of those projects, like dams and water storage. This is allowed in the treaty. It is not blocking, it is part of the process.

3. India cannot put the treaty on hold. Ambassador Sheikh said India announced in April 2025 that it will hold the treaty “in abeyance”. He said this has no legal value. The treaty itself says it will continue until both countries sign a new treaty to end it. One country alone cannot suspend it.
He also said the Court of Arbitration, in its decision in May 2026, has confirmed that the treaty is still valid and India must follow its rules.

4. Security issues cannot be linked to water. He said blaming Pakistan for terrorism cannot be used as a reason to stop water. A water treaty cannot be broken for political reasons.

In the end, he said this treaty has kept peace for over 60 years. It has given clear rules for sharing water. If this treaty is broken, it will create problems for peace in South Asia.

He said water from the Indus is very important for 250 million people in Pakistan for farming, food and jobs. Pakistan will continue to defend its rights under this treaty and India should come back to following the treaty fully.