Islamabad: Pakistan will safeguard its water rights under the Indus Waters Treaty through all available legal, diplomatic, and national means, according to Sardar Masood Khan, the former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and former Ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations. He warned that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its water share would pose a humanitarian and security challenge for the region.

According to the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, in a recent television interview, Sardar Masood Khan emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to resolving disputes through international law and diplomacy, stressing the inseparable link between water security and the nation’s economic stability, agriculture, food security, and survival. He criticized the Indus Waters Treaty as unequal from Pakistan’s perspective and accused India of exploiting the agreement by constructing dams and altering river flows, violating the treaty’s provisions.

Sardar Masood Khan stated that India’s unilateral suspension of the Treaty lacks legal standing, citing the Court of Arbitration’s declaration of India’s actions as unlawful. He noted that international legal experts and the World Bank maintain that the Treaty cannot be unilaterally suspended and should be implemented in good faith. He urged Pakistan to intensify its diplomatic outreach to highlight the humanitarian implications of India’s actions to the global community.

He further discussed the strategic leverage China holds as an upper riparian state and its hydropower projects on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, noting China’s diplomatic prudence. Addressing regional security, Khan highlighted the multidimensional challenges faced by Pakistan, including state-sponsored terrorism, while urging Afghanistan to prevent its territory from being used against Pakistan.

On Middle Eastern developments, Sardar Masood Khan spoke about Pakistan’s role in mediating between the United States and Iran, earning international recognition and highlighting Pakistan’s growing diplomatic influence. He noted the challenges in implementing the US-Iran understanding but expressed Pakistan’s readiness to facilitate further negotiations.

Concluding his remarks, Sardar Masood Khan called for national unity in defending Pakistan’s interests, reaffirming the country’s resolve and capability to protect its sovereign rights and national security through peaceful solutions, diplomacy, and international law.