Politics · India Bureau
Pakistan PM raises water concerns at SCO amid India tensions
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has raised the issue of water access at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation forum, intensifying diplomatic focus on water-sharing disputes between the two nations.
LSN India ·
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif brought the contentious issue of water access to the forefront at the SCO platform, signalling renewed concern over water-sharing arrangements amid escalating tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.
The statement comes as India has adopted a firmer stance on the Indus Waters Treaty, the decades-old bilateral accord that governs water-sharing between the two South Asian neighbours. Sharif's intervention at the multilateral forum underscores Pakistan's growing anxiety over potential changes to existing water-sharing protocols.
The BJP, India's ruling party, responded swiftly to Sharif's remarks through social media, posting a satirical video on Instagram that referenced India's historical position on the matter. The party's riposte highlighted New Delhi's consistent emphasis on the treaty's existing terms and India's rights as an upper riparian nation.
Water scarcity remains a critical issue for Pakistan, which relies heavily on the Indus River system for irrigation and drinking water. The tension reflects broader Indo-Pakistani diplomatic friction and competing claims over shared water resources in South Asia.