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New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has again raised the issue of water with India regarding the Indus Water Treaty. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, he said that water is vital for the entire region and it should not be used to put pressure on any country or take political advantage. The special thing was that when Sharif was making this point, Chinese President Xi Jinping was also present there.

Appeal to India regarding water

Sharif expressed concern about shared water resources at the SCO conference held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. He said that the water of rivers is linked to the lives of crores of people, farming and future generations. Therefore, agreements to water resources should be respected.

This statement of Sharif has come at a time when India has refused to accept the international arbitration order on its decision to postpone the Indus Water Treaty. India argues that the institution which gave this order does not have the right to comment on India’s sovereign decision.

India’s big decision after Pahalgam attack

India had suspended the Indus Water Treaty after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025. 26 people lost their lives in this attack. After this, India took many tough diplomatic steps against Pakistan.

Pakistan had approached the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding this matter. However, India has raised questions on this process and its jurisdiction.

Sharif also spoke on terrorism

Speaking at the SCO forum, Sharif described terrorism as a serious threat to the region. He said that without lasting peace in South and Central Asia, the region cannot achieve its full potential.

During the conference, Sharif also had talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He was also seen with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Pakistan is now preparing to take over the upcoming presidency of SCO.