International experts and human rights advocates gathered in Geneva on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to deliberate on India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The conference was convened by the Shivi Development Society under the theme ‘Community Water Rights & the Imperative to Keep the Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance’.

It brought together diverse voices to examine the treaty in the context of security, human rights and the water rights of communities dependent on the Indus River system.

Dr Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at the South Asia Democratic Forum in Brussels, asserted that India was within its sovereign rights to seek a review of the treaty. He argued that Pakistan’s conduct had undermined the object, purpose and spirit of the agreement.

He highlighted structural asymmetries in the treaty, including water distribution, India’s financial contribution to the Indus Development Fund, restrictions on storage and infrastructure, and disputes over Indian hydropower projects such as Baglihar, Kishenganga and Ratle.

Wolf dismissed Pakistan’s claim that India was blocking river flows, describing it as an engineering myth. He explained that hydropower projects were largely non‑consumptive, with water released downstream after use.

He attributed Pakistan’s water challenges to domestic factors such as agricultural practices, landholding patterns, urban pressures and ageing canal infrastructure, rather than Indian projects.

London‑based human rights activist Arif Aajakia emphasised that access to water was a fundamental human right. He raised concerns over the distribution of water resources within Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, and linked the debate over the treaty to broader India‑Pakistan security concerns.

Geneva‑based human rights expert Mamun Rahman of the International Forum for Secular Bangladesh called for greater attention to the distribution of natural resources within Pakistan.

He stressed the importance of considering the concerns of communities in Sindh and Balochistan, arguing that transboundary water governance must account for the impact of water‑related decisions on communities across borders.

In a video statement, Lakhu Luvana, Chairperson of the World Sindhi Congress, reiterated longstanding concerns in Sindh and Balochistan over the use and distribution of natural resources, including water. He argued that these issues extended beyond the operation of any bilateral treaty and reflected deeper structural inequities.

The conference was chaired by Narender Kumar, Executive Director of the Shivi Development Society. Kumar insisted that the debate over the Indus Waters Treaty should not remain confined to India‑Pakistan relations. He called for greater focus on the rights and water needs of communities dependent on the Indus River system, including those in India.

Kumar stressed that the question of keeping the treaty in abeyance was not only about a bilateral agreement between two countries. It was also about recognising the rights and legitimate water needs of local communities that rely on the Indus River system.

He urged that human rights, equitable access to water, community participation and sustainable water governance remain central to discussions on transboundary river systems.

The conference underscored the growing international recognition that water security cannot be divorced from human rights and regional stability. It highlighted that Pakistan’s internal mismanagement of resources, coupled with structural flaws in the treaty, has exacerbated its water crisis. The debate reinforced India’s position that suspension of the treaty is a sovereign decision rooted in both national security and community rights.

ANI