Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said any violation of Indus Water Treaty by India would pertain to considerable risk of war and hostilities between the two countries.
“Pakistan will not accept Indian aggression in any form and any Indian step for disrupting water flow as upper riparian will pertain to considerable risk of war and hostilities,” the Advisor said in National Assembly in response to a calling attention notice.
He said India feels much pressure due to our diplomatic onslaught and raising voice on grave human rights violation in Indian occupied Kashmir and supporting the right to self-determination for Kashmiri people in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
The Advisor explained the provisions of Indus Water Treaty and said, as per sub-provision 3 and 4 of provisions of article 12 of IWT, the treaty cannot be altered or revoked unilaterally.
He said the treaty shall continue to be in force until modified by both the countries after an understanding. This treaty is for an indefinite period and is a binding. It is not time specific or event specific.
Sartaj Aziz said the treaty offers no unilateral exit provision or revocation. Moreover, there is also an arbitration mechanism provided in Indus Water Treaty to resolve the disputes within its mechanism.
He said according to international law and provisions of IWT, India cannot unilaterally revoke the treaty as it will not only undermine India’s international standing but also pertain to considerable risk of war and hostilities.
The Advisor said, if India tries to interrupt water flow into Pakistan as an upper riparian it will not only violate IWT but also set a regional state practice under which an international law can serve as a precedence for others.
Such an Indian act may also provide China with a justification to consider suspension of water of Indian river Brahmaputra. “India has already damaged its credentials by even considering revocation of IWT and disrupting water flow into Pakistan.”
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