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Addressing the SCO Council of Heads of State, Sharif described water as the “lifeblood” of the region and said it sustains millions of lives, supports agriculture and is crucial to the future of generations to come. “Water will not be allowed to be used as a weapon,” Sharif said, arguing that shared water resources must not be turned into an instrument of coercion or political leverage.

“The treaties governing our shared waters are solemn binding international commitments. They are not matters of political conveniences to be cast aside at your will. They must be honoured unconditionally in both letter and spirit,” he said.

Sharif’s remarks came a day after India rejected a ruling by the Hague-based Court of Arbitration that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remains legally binding and that the dispute-resolution mechanism under the pact can continue to examine disagreements between India and Pakistan. New Delhi has maintained that the tribunal is “illegally constituted” and has no jurisdiction over the matter.

The Pakistani Prime Minister also linked the water dispute to the broader question of regional peace, saying South Asia could not realise its full potential without lasting peace. He stressed the need for diplomacy and regional cooperation in managing shared water resources.

The latest exchange has added to tensions between India and Pakistan over the Indus Waters Treaty, which has been in abeyance since India’s decision to suspend its operation following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.

The Hague-based Court of Arbitration has ruled that the treaty remains legally binding and that the dispute-resolution mechanism established under it can continue to examine disputes between the two countries.

India, however, has rejected the ruling, saying it neither recognised the Court of Arbitration nor participated in its proceedings and does not accept its jurisdiction.

The Ministry of External Affairs has described the tribunal as an “illegally constituted” body, arguing that it was created in violation of the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.

New Delhi has also asserted that the court has “no jurisdiction whatsoever” over India’s sovereign decisions. It has said the tribunal’s present or future pronouncements will have no bearing on India’s actions concerning hydroelectric projects.

India has further made clear that its decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remains in force, despite the tribunal’s position that the pact continues to operate.PM MODI'S FIRM MESSAGE AGAINST TERRORISM AT SCO

Sharif’s comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the SCO summit, where India placed terrorism at the centre of its message. PM Modi called on SCO member states to act against the entire ecosystem supporting terrorism, including terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.

"Terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity as a whole. In the fight against terrorism, we cannot remain confined to an action-reaction approach," he said.

He also warned against “double standards” in the fight against terrorism and said countries that provide shelter or support to terrorists must face a strong international response.

"We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens. We must speak with one voice and make it clear that there can be no place for double standards on this serious issue," PM Modi said.

"We must send a strong message to countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide safe haven and support to terrorists that terrorism can never be a strategic asset for anyone," he added.

For India, the SCO represents a confluence of great civilisations, cultures and ideas, Modi said. He outlined three key pillars of India’s vision for the grouping: security, connectivity and opportunity.- EndsPublished By: Shipra ParasharPublished On: Sep 1, 2026 16:12 IST