Pakistan tells UK lawmakers it wants Indus Waters Treaty revived amid India tensions
The outreach comes after India and Pakistan engaged in their most intense military exchange in years, sparking fears of a full-scale war under a nuclear overhang. Over four days in May, both sides exchanged missile strikes, launched drone attacks and engaged in air combat before a US-brokered ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump on May 10.
The crisis was triggered by a militant attack that killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi blamed the assault on Pakistan-based elements, an allegation Islamabad denied, instead calling for an independent international probe. As tensions escalated, the global community moved swiftly to defuse the situation.
Before launching its military strikes, India took several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending a decades-old, World Bank-backed water-sharing treaty between the two countries.
'The High-Level Parliamentary delegation from Pakistan, led by the Chairman of Pakistan People's Party and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, briefed the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pakistan during a meeting hosted by APPG Chair Yasmin Qureshi MP at Westminster Palace, which was attended by cross-party British parliamentarians,' the statement said.
'The delegation underscored Pakistan's commitment to restraint, revival of the Indus Waters Treaty and initiation of a composite dialogue between the two countries on all outstanding issues, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.'
According to the statement, Bhutto-Zardari briefed lawmakers on the consequences of what he described as India's unprovoked aggression, including violations of Pakistan's sovereignty in the aftermath of the attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
He rejected India's allegations against Pakistan as baseless, saying they lacked credible investigation or verifiable evidence.
He further warned India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty violated international law and could have serious implications for regional and global peace.
Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik also addressed the session, highlighting the environmental and food security risks of disrupting the treaty.
He warned the suspension threatened the survival of Pakistan's 240 million people, most of whom rely on agriculture.
The delegation also emphasized Pakistan's military response to the Indian actions was measured and consistent with international law, including the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistani opposition alliance says government trying to ‘eliminate' rivals, calls for joint strategy
ISLAMABAD: A coalition of prominent Pakistani opposition leaders on Friday called for a unified political strategy to address what they described as a systematic effort to eliminate dissent, condemning recent convictions related to the May 9, 2023, riots and rejecting the legitimacy of the 2024 general elections. The two-day multiparty conference was convened by the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) — or Movement for the Protection of Pakistan's Constitution — a newly formed alliance of politicians, lawyers and civil society leaders advocating for constitutional supremacy and civilian rule. Established earlier this year, TTAP is chaired by veteran Pashtun leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and held its gathering in Islamabad at the residence of former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, who said the capital administration had attempted to block the event by sealing off its original venue. 'There is a clear attempt to eliminate the opposition in this country,' Khokhar said toward the end of the gathering, adding: 'All parties at the conference unanimously agreed that a comprehensive and joint strategy is urgently needed to steer the country out of this crisis.' The conference condemned the convictions handed down to the leaders and supporters of the country's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party over their alleged role in the May 9 unrest. The protests, triggered by Khan's brief detention by paramilitary rangers on corruption charges, turned violent, with attacks on military installations across the country. An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan convicted the leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate on charges of being involved in the unrest, though the PTI has frequently described such cases and convictions as politically motivated. The government, however, said all those who were sentenced were given fair trials within the legal and constitutional framework. 'Fair trials were conducted in the May 9 cases in accordance with the law,' Information Minister Ata Tarar asserted in a televised statement following the opposition alliance's news conference. 'The proceedings lasted two full years, during which the prosecution presented its arguments and evidence.' The multiparty conference participants also denounced the imprisonment of Khan and his wife, Bushra Imran, and demanded their immediate release. The declaration agreed at the gathering also accused the government of 'fascism and political victimization' and rejected the outcome of the 2024 elections as fraudulent. It also called for repealing the 26th Amendment, which curtailed judicial autonomy by expanding parliamentary oversight of appointments, saying it had undermined judicial independence in Pakistan, and expressed solidarity with six Islamabad High Court judges who had spoken out against institutional interference. Tarar, however, dismissed the opposition's assertions, saying the participants of the conference 'had neither arguments nor facts.' 'Whenever a foreign visit to Pakistan is about to begin, especially by a foreign head of state, such actions are taken to sabotage it and damage the country's economy,' he added, noting that the conference came just ahead of the Iranian president's visit to Pakistan on Saturday.
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan army chief says China partnership ‘pivotal' for regional peace amid shifting global dynamics
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Friday described the country's strategic partnership with China as 'pivotal' for regional peace and stability, as he highlighted the strength of bilateral ties that have endured despite shifting global geopolitics. The army chief was speaking at an event held at Pakistan's military headquarters in Rawalpindi to mark the 98th founding anniversary of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA). The ceremony was also attended by Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, PLA Defense Attaché Major General Wang Zhong and senior military officials from both countries. Munir's statement comes weeks after India's Deputy Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh, claimed China had provided Pakistan with 'live inputs' during a brief but intense four-day military conflict with India in May. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, however, told Arab News prior to that that the outcome of the conflict was a 'victory' that was entirely 'Made in Pakistan.' 'The Field Marshal highlighted that the Pakistan-China strategic relationship exemplifies mutual trust, unwavering support and shared commitment,' the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, said in a statement circulated after the event. 'He stressed that despite shifting strategic dynamics, the friendship between the two nations has remained steadfast and unshakable.' 'He [also] emphasized that their enduring partnership will continue to play a pivotal role in promoting regional stability and safeguarding shared strategic interests,' the statement added. The army chief also praised the PLA for its role in China's defense, security and nation-building. He described Pakistan and China as 'true brothers-in-arms' whose bond remains 'unique, time-tested and exceptionally resilient.' The Chinese ambassador thanked the Pakistan Army for hosting the ceremony and reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to the strategic partnership. He also acknowledged Pakistan's armed forces for their role in counterterrorism. Pakistan and China are long-standing allies and partners in the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The corridor provides China with direct access to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan's Gwadar Port, while enabling Pakistan to modernize infrastructure and expand regional trade links.
Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan accuses Indian leaders of distorting facts after fresh claims in parliament over Kashmir attack
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected India's accusation it was behind a militant attack in Kashmir that triggered a war between the two countries this year, calling it a 'distortion of facts' and questioning the timing of New Delhi's claim India had killed the perpetrators ahead of a heated parliamentary session. In a speech to the Indian parliament this week, Home Minister Amit Shah accused Pakistan of fomenting cross-border militancy and attempting to destabilize peace in Indian-administered Kashmir. He told Indian lawmakers the attack bore 'clear signs of Pakistani involvement' and warned of 'decisive consequences' if such incidents persisted. Pakistan and India went to war in May that lasted for four days after an April gun attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir left 26 people dead. Without presenting any evidence, New Delhi accused Islamabad of orchestrating the assault, prompting Islamabad to deny the charge and call for an impartial international probe. Shah also claimed Indian security forces had killed militants involved in the April attack in 'an encounter.' 'Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless assertions and provocative claims made by the Indian leaders during the Lok Sabha [parliamentary] debate on the so-called Operation Sindoor,' Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told a weekly press briefing, referring to the title New Delhi gave to its war with Pakistan. 'These statements reflect a dangerous tendency to distort facts, justify aggression, and glorify conflict for domestic consumption,' he added. 'The account given by the Indian home minister is replete with fabrications, leading to serious questions about its credibility.' 'Is it a mere coincidence that the alleged perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack were killed at the start of the Lok Sabha debate?' Khan questioned. He said India had failed to achieve any strategic objectives, highlighting Pakistan's success in neutralizing Indian fighter jets and military targets. Khan urged Indian leaders not to mislead their people, but to acknowledge the losses suffered by their armed forces and recognize the role of third parties in facilitating the ceasefire. 'The Indian narrative of an alleged nuclear blackmail by Pakistan is a misleading and self-serving construct and an attempt to veil its own escalatory impulses while shifting blame onto Pakistan,' he said. 'India's continued reliance on disinformation, jingoism and chest-thumping risks destabilizing South Asia.'India and Pakistan have fought four major wars since their independence in 1947, largely driven by their competing claims over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir, which they both rule in part but claim in full.
