Sharif raises water dispute at SCO summit
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Tuesday to raise the long-running dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty, describing water as the region's 'lifeline' and calling for international agreements to be respected.
"Water will not be allowed to be used as a weapon," Sharif said, according to reports from India Today and Moneycontrol. He argued that shared water resources must not become a tool of political confrontation, and called for treaties governing shared waters to be honoured "unconditionally in both letter and spirit."
The remarks came a day after India rejected a ruling by the Hague-based Court of Arbitration concerning the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.
India rejects tribunal ruling
The Hague-based Court of Arbitration ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty remains legally binding and that the dispute-resolution mechanism under the pact can continue examining disputes between India and Pakistan. India has dismissed the tribunal as an "illegally constituted" body, saying it neither recognised the court nor participated in its proceedings.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the court has "no jurisdiction whatsoever" over India's sovereign decisions. India's decision to keep the treaty in abeyance remains in force, following its suspension after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.
Sharif linked the water dispute to regional stability, saying South Asia could not achieve lasting peace without responsible management of shared resources. He also said Pakistan had played an effective role in promoting peace during a regional crisis and that its diplomatic efforts contributed to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. He expressed hope that parties would implement the Islamabad Peace Agreement for Afghanistan.
Modi's address on terrorism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the SCO summit, placing terrorism at the centre of India's message. He called on SCO member states to act against the entire ecosystem supporting terrorism, including terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens. Modi warned against "double standards" in the fight against terrorism, saying countries that provide shelter or support to terrorists must face a strong international response. He outlined three pillars of India's vision for the grouping: security, connectivity and opportunity.