Pakistan calls Shah's IWT remarks ‘clear violation of international law'
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Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned Indian Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan 'will never be restored,' terming the statement a 'brazen disregard for the sanctity of international agreements.'
Responding to media queries regarding Shah's interview with The Times of India, in which he said that India would divert water flowing to Pakistan for domestic use, the Foreign Office in Islamabad said the comments constitute a clear violation of international law, the Treaty's provisions, and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations.
'The Indus Waters Treaty is not a political arrangement, but an international treaty with no provision for unilateral action,' the Foreign Office spokesperson said. 'India's illegal announcement to hold the Treaty in abeyance constitutes a clear violation of international law, the provisions of the Treaty itself, and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations.'
Read More: India rules out restoring Indus Waters Treaty, vows to divert water from Pakistan
The spokesperson added that such conduct 'sets a reckless and dangerous precedent' that undermines the credibility of international agreements and raises serious concerns about India's reliability as a treaty partner.
'Weaponizing water for political ends is irresponsible and contrary to established norms of responsible state behavior,' the statement said, calling on New Delhi to immediately rescind its unilateral position and resume full implementation of the treaty.
For its part, Pakistan reiterated its firm commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty and pledged to take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights under the agreement.
Statement by the Spokesperson Regarding Indian Home Minister's Assertion that the Indus Waters Treaty Will Never be Restored.
Responding to media queries regarding the Indian Home Minister's assertion that the Indus Waters Treaty will never be restored , the Spokesperson of the… pic.twitter.com/ndY9LfAkhk — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) June 21, 2025
Signed in 1960 with the World Bank as a guarantor, the Indus Waters Treaty governs the allocation and use of water from the Indus river system between the two countries.
The treaty guarantees Pakistan access to the three western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — which are crucial for irrigation and agriculture in the country. Despite wars and ongoing tensions, the treaty had largely withstood bilateral hostilities for over six decades.
However, in April 2025, India announced it was placing the treaty 'in abeyance' following a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), which it blamed on elements allegedly linked to Pakistan, without providing any evidence. Islamabad has categorically denied any involvement in the incident.
Also Read: Ready to forestall India's IWT threat: PM
In Saturday's interview, Shah said unequivocally: 'No, it will never be restored. We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably.'
Shah's remarks, seen as a hardening of India's stance, have dimmed hopes of any near-term dialogue over the future of the treaty. Reuters recently reported that India plans to dramatically increase the water it diverts from rivers that flow into Pakistan as part of what it calls retaliatory measures.
Pakistan is reportedly exploring legal avenues to challenge India's move under international law, and diplomatic efforts are ongoing to rally international support for the preservation and enforcement of the treaty.
The escalating rhetoric over water comes amid fragile ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours, despite a ceasefire agreement earlier this year after one of the most serious flare-ups along the Line of Control in recent decades.
What is the Indus Waters Treaty?
The origins of the IWT can be traced back to the Partition of British India in August 1947, when India and Pakistan became two independent nations. Both countries, now home to over 1.6 billion people, have historically relied heavily on the rivers flowing from the Himalayas for irrigation and agriculture.
The division of the Punjab province, which was extensively developed under British rule with an integrated irrigation system, created an immediate need for an agreement on the equitable sharing of the river waters between India and Pakistan.
This was essential to prevent any future conflicts over this vital resource, particularly given that the new border separated the territories through which these rivers flowed.
After nine years of negotiations, facilitated by the World Bank, the IWT was signed in September 1960 by then-Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistani president Ayub Khan.
Read More: India's unilateral suspension of IWT could destabilise regional peace: Bilawal
India was given control over the three eastern rivers—Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas—while Pakistan was assigned control over the three western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. As part of the treaty, India is required to allow the waters of the western rivers to flow into Pakistan, with only a few exceptions.
The treaty also allows India to develop hydroelectric projects on the western rivers, but these projects must adhere to strict conditions.
They must be "run-of-the-river" projects, meaning that they cannot significantly alter the flow or storage of water, ensuring that Pakistan's water rights as the downstream riparian country are not adversely affected.
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Normal Flight Path followed by KLM at 0945 PST (0445 UTC) on 6 May 2025 IAF's concealed maneuvers The timeline of this scenario proceeded with IAF operations started at 0010 hours PST 7 May 2025 & 6 May 1910 UTC with Indian airstrike within Pakistan's borders at 35 minutes past midnight which is 0035 PST 7 May 2025 &1935 UTC 6 May 2025. A PAF response was activated at 0012 hrs PST & 1912 UTC. Added to the list of projectiles fired at the heart of Pakistan were Bahawalpur to the south, Muzaffarabad mosque in the north, alongside a presumed Muridke compound. The most concerning tale of pertaining to 'human shield' disclaimer is the control airspace of the IAF over regions of Indian Kashmir and Jammu as it is proven that commercial flights were routed into these zones. Official Images released showing active Indian Operations at 0035 PST IAF's presence and civilian overlap The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) gave a press briefing with the slide 'RECONSTRUCTION OF EVENTS' as below, when a photograph in the slide strikingly caught the attention of the author. It shows IAF strike packages marked with red boxes and dotted over the LOC as well as the Indian Kashmir and Jammu region. PAF Brief showing location of IAF Package at 0030 PST Combining PAF's reconstruction with actual civilian flight data tells a similar story. The flight tracker info showing 6 May 2025, UTC 19:35:06 timestamped below Image 8 shows civilian air traffic feeding into the so-called 'operational zones' of IAF redacted strikes. The picture exhibits superdense garrisoned traffic of jets in the construed airspace of the north. The display provides uncanny resemblance to random intersections of civil flight paths with IAF fighter activities. Airliners diverted over the IAF Package and S-400 Site Shown in the image below, the overlap is reemphasized with OSINT along the dangerous corridor where Qatar Airways flight QTR85V and China Southern Airlines flight CSN8070 are located, corroborating the timeline. As for their flight paths, QTR85V is visible south of Bhatinda and south-west of Adhampur, locations that, according to PAF charts, were close to where a Rafael aircraft was operating (288 / 19 NM from Bhatinda) and where an S-400 was reportedly deployed. CSN8070 is also in almost the same critical location. Noteworthy is that Vietnam Airlines flight HVN18 also traversed this sensitive region. With the same timing, this flight was flying east to Hanoi from Paris, and put through 'beelining' around the highly contested area. Chinese, Qatari, Vietnamese and Dutch Airliners being flown over the battle space Acquired information, as per the following image, suggests there was also Kuwait Airways flight KAC381 (Kuwait City – Delhi) appears to have taken the most curious detour crossing the furthest to 'exotic' combat zones as well. Its flight path castles a continuous line which markedly contradicts the usual routes airline flights take through the LOC which appears even more transparent as it virtually flies straight to the spot 'to protect IAF indeed'. This precise positioning of multiple civilian airliners near key Indian military assets and operational zones intensifies the 'human shield' claim. Kuwait Airways flew a diverted path all along the International Border and LOC while a large number of IAF and PAF fighters were airborne All went quiet on the eastern front as soon as 1945 UTC – 0045 hrs PST. Once the IAF had completed its weapons release and its munitions had hit their targets. All airliners diverted and jumbled up now being reverted back at 0045 PST to their destination path also ensuring safe exit of IAF fighter after their strikes The "Kill Chart" and strategic positioning Seen in the official PAF brief, the 'Kill Chart' shared with media representatives featured IAF aircraft such as the Rafale, MiG 29, Su-30 MKI, with shooting ranges marked relative to important locations like Srinagar, Jammu and the International Border. In the modified image of the 'Kill Chart' below, the red box highlights an area where civilian airliners were flying heavily around the time the alleged strikes occurred. The area where the IAF aircraft were said to be operating overlaps and is key to the 'human shield' narrative. Red Box indicating PAF avoided shooting IAF fighters in the area with human shield airliners. The implication is stark: Pakistani fighter jets took great care taking 'shots of opportunity in Grind' while in BVR (Beyond Visual Range) air combat mode and 'sorting' the targets avoiding the commercial jets in the area. As well as defend themselves from crossfire during any aggressive attempts from IAF jets which were indeed present in the conflict zones of Indian Kashmir and Jammu. If IAF jets had commanding presence over these particular zones – which was not to be – and civilian airliners were forced or retained on to the Northern paths to these zones, it would cripple all attempts by Pakistan air defence to intercept or counter fire. This specific approach makes defendable every argument around the possible killing of thousands of innocent civilians under the guise of military operations. A grave violation: the purposeful proximity The integration of OSINT, including flight tracking data, local Bahawalpur tweet – image 14 – reporting impacts around 0040 PST, and military replays, provides a coherent yet disturbing analysis. The critical concern is: Why were commercial airlines actively instructed to forcefully maneuver into, and purportedly stay within, an airstrike package IAF purportedly positioned over Kashmir and Jammu, rather than being safely, international airspace guideline compliant, routed well south of the conflict zone? A tweet from local shows that by 0040 PST the airstrikes had struck their targets Best practice aviation safety risk management protocols order the immediate air space clearance of commercial aviation during any aviation military activity. Regardless, the OSINT data paints a picture that not only were those protocols completely disregarded, but an illogical dangerous northern route was enforced or followed. Implications: a deliberate act of endangerment This glaring absence of southward diversions, coupled with the dense civilian air traffic being funnelled northwards, compels a severe examination of the implications for India's conduct… Gross Negligence and Strategic Misjudgment: One possibility points to an appalling failure of coordination and judgment within India's command and control. Such a lapse, leading to thousands of civilian lives being knowingly exposed to a conflict zone, would constitute a profound breach of aviation safety and human ethics. One possibility points to an appalling failure of coordination and judgment within India's command and control. Such a lapse, leading to thousands of civilian lives being knowingly exposed to a conflict zone, would constitute a profound breach of aviation safety and human ethics. A Deliberate 'Human Shield' Tactic: The most chilling implication, and the focus of the counter-narrative which the writer offers here, is the allegation of an 'intent strategy'. Steering civilian airliners into an active operational zone transforms the aircraft and passengers into a 'human shield' that inhibits effective defensive countermeasures. If this hypothesis was proven, the consequences would not only be devastating in terms of international humanitarian law—particularly the principle of distinction—but also represent a deeply immoral act of civilian life cannibalization for the purposes of warfare. The human cost and the call for accountability Above and beyond the specific intricacies of flight paths and military maps lies an unquestionable human dimension. Every yellow symbol on those flight tracker maps conveys hundreds of individuals, including passengers, pilots, and cabin crew, unaware that their routine flight was allegedly meant to be turned into some sort of a dangerous military operation. It is deeply disturbing and morally distressing to contemplate that these people might have been intended to be a shield for military operations behind the scenes. The comprehensive collection of open-source intelligence provided in this case, such as detailed flight tracking data, contemporaneous social media reports, and official military briefings, along with others, raises some of the most profound and unsettling questions alongside the ones that have already been answered. It strongly indicates that civilian airliners were purposely steered dangerously close to IAF operational zones, directly undermining the narrative India has been pointing out against Pakistan. It goes beyond the issues of international relations or military maneuvers; it is an investigation into law and morality, along with the fundamental right to unimpeded access to traversing through airspace regarded as civilian without risk. There needs to be an investigation done by an outside entity because 'unbiased' has become a myth in modern discourse. It is necessary to understand so that measures can be put in place to prevent what can been bluntly described as 'contemptable'. Every single honest citizen of the world is yet to receive answers on what these innocent individuals did to deserve being jammed into the space just above the so-called weapon delivery zone and who bears the ultimate responsibility for this alleged act of deception and endangerment. Fahad Masood is an aviation analyst and freelance contributor All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author
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