Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The sun aligned directly above the Holy Kaaba in Makkah on Tuesday in a rare astronomical phenomenon witnessed as more than 1.5 million Muslims gathered in Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2026. The alignment occurred at 12:18 p.m. local time when the sun reached its closest point to complete perpendicularity above the Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The phenomenon came as pilgrims from around the world continued performing Hajj rituals in the holy cities of Makkah, Mina and Mount Arafat during one of the largest annual religious gatherings globally. Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Engineer Majed Abu Zahra said the sun reached an elevation of 89.94 degrees above the Kaaba, just 0.06 degrees short of perfect alignment. The event allows Muslims worldwide to verify the direction of the Qibla by observing the sun&rsquo;s position and the shadows cast by vertical objects, which nearly disappear at the moment of alignment. Abu Zahra said the phenomenon occurs twice each year due to the sun&rsquo;s apparent movement between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and carries scientific, educational and religious significance. He added that the alignment has historically been used to help correct mosque orientations and improve astronomical calculations linked to Islamic practices.

Middle East

As Muslims from around the world gather for Hajj 2026, the sun aligns directly above the Holy Kaaba in Makkah during a rare astronomical phenomenon used to determine the Qibla direction.

Sun aligns above Holy Kaaba in rare astronomical phenomenon

ISLAMABAD: More than 1.7 million Muslims gathered in Mina before dawn on Wednesday to perform the symbolic stoning ritual marking the start of Eid al-Adha, following an overnight stay in Muzdalifah during one of the most demanding stages of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. According to Saudi publication Arab News and the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), pilgrims arriving from Muzdalifah began performing the ritual of stoning Jamrat Al-Aqaba at dawn, throwing seven pebbles at the largest of the three pillars representing Satan. The movement of pilgrims unfolded under extensive security, transport and health operations as Saudi authorities managed one of the world&rsquo;s largest annual religious gatherings. Millions of pilgrims dressed in white ihram garments moved through pedestrian corridors linking Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina, while water misting stations and medical teams were deployed along the routes to help pilgrims cope with desert temperatures. Saudi authorities said crowd movement at the Jamarat complex remained smooth under integrated operational plans involving security personnel, ambulance teams, sanitation workers and crowd-management officials. The Saudi Press Agency reported that shuttle buses and the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro continued transporting pilgrims between the holy sites according to coordinated traffic schedules designed to reduce congestion and travel times. Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) said around 290,000 pilgrims were transported from Arafat to Muzdalifah during one operational phase alone, bringing the total number of passengers transported through the metro system during the first three phases to more than 604,000 pilgrims. SAR said the metro network would operate more than 2,000 trips during Hajj season, transporting over two million passengers across the holy sites. The third day of Hajj coincides with the beginning of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam&rsquo;s most important religious festivals commemorating Prophet Ibrahim&rsquo;s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. After completing the first stoning ritual, pilgrims proceed with animal sacrifice, hair shaving or trimming and Tawaf Al-Ifadah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah before returning to Mina for additional stoning rituals during the days of Tashreeq. On Tuesday, pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat for the spiritual climax of Hajj, offering prayers and supplications at the site where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon. This year&rsquo;s Hajj has drawn 1,707,301 pilgrims, according to Saudi authorities, including more than 1.54 million international pilgrims. Pakistan has sent around 179,000 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, including more than 119,000 under the government scheme and 60,000 through private tour operators, making it one of the world&rsquo;s largest Hajj contingents. Pakistani officials said trained teams of Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj remained deployed across the holy sites to assist pilgrims with transport, accommodation, crowd management and emergency support. Pakistan also introduced a pilot project this year enabling thousands of Pakistani pilgrims to travel between Makkah and Madinah aboard the Haramain High-Speed Railway, significantly reducing travel time between the two holy cities. Saudi authorities said this year&rsquo;s Hajj witnessed expanded digital services, stronger crowd coordination and broader implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative, which allows pilgrims from participating countries, including Pakistan, to complete immigration procedures before departure.

Pilgrims gather in Mina to perform the symbolic stoning ritual marking the start of Eid al-Adha after spending the night in Muzdalifah during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Millions perform stoning ritual in Mina as Eid al-Adha begins

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday it was in negotiations with the Bangladeshi government for a new assistance program at Dhaka&#39;s request, as the South Asian country reels from the economic fallout of the Iran war. &quot;The Bangladeshi authorities have requested a new IMF-supported program,&quot; said Ivo Krznar, the Fund&#39;s Mission Chief for Bangladesh. &quot;IMF staff are in discussions with the authorities on their reform agenda and policy priorities.&quot; In March, Bangladesh&#39;s government said it was seeking loans of around $2 billion from multilateral donors to tackle energy security concerns sparked by the surging fuel prices caused by the war on Iran. In a virtual meeting last week between Bangladesh Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke, both sides agreed to move quickly toward a new program, the finance ministry said in a statement on Monday. Bangladesh is already in the middle of a $5.7 billion IMF program, which began in 2023 and was due to run for four years. Last week, the World Bank said it had approved a $350 million loan to help Bangladesh manage rising fuel import pressures and strengthen energy security after shortages linked to the Middle East war. The South Asian nation of 170 million people imports 95 percent of its oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), much of it from the Middle East, where energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been disrupted since the war began on February 28. Bangladesh relies on imported LNG to meet its electricity demands, with power needs surging as the South Asian country swelters in the summer heat. The government has already taken several measures to curb fuel consumption, including halting production at most fertilizer factories.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is already in the middle of a $5.7 billion IMF program, which began in 2023 and was due to run for four years; World Bank says it had approved a $350 million loan to help Bangladesh manage rising fuel import pressures and strengthen energy security after shortages linked to the Middle East war.

IMF says Bangladesh requests new assistance program amid Iran war fallout

ISLAMABAD: Millions of Muslims across Pakistan on Wednesday celebrated Eid al-Adha with special prayers, animal sacrifices and gatherings with family and friends, while worshippers also prayed for peace in the Middle East and the success of diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions following the conflict involving the United States-Israel and Iran. The three-day religious festival, observed from the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, comes at the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where more than 1.5 million Muslims, including around 179,000 Pakistanis, are performing the sacred rites of Islam. Mosques and open prayer grounds across Pakistani cities filled early in the morning as worshippers offered Eid prayers and listened to sermons emphasizing sacrifice, compassion, unity, and care for the underprivileged. Eid al-Adha, also known as the &ldquo;Festival of Sacrifice,&rdquo; commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah before God replaced the sacrifice with a ram. The occasion is marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals, with meat traditionally distributed among family members, relatives and the poor. In his Eid message, President Asif Ali Zardari said the festival reminded Muslims of &ldquo;obedience to Allah, patience, loyalty, sincerity and sacrifice.&rdquo; &ldquo;The joy of Eid is complete only when the underprivileged, the deserving, orphans, widows, the sick and those quietly enduring hardship are also included in these celebrations,&rdquo; he said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also urged Pakistanis to remember vulnerable communities and reaffirm commitments to unity and service to humanity. &ldquo;We also stand in unwavering solidarity with our oppressed brothers and sisters in Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,&rdquo; the prime minister said in his message. Meanwhile, the military leadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir, Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, said Eid al-Adha symbolized &ldquo;sacrifice, faith and solidarity.&rdquo; &ldquo;The Pakistan Armed Forces remain steadfast in their sacred duty to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and stand shoulder to shoulder with the nation in pursuit of peace and stability,&rdquo; the military said in a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations. Special prayers were also offered for lasting peace in the Middle East, stability in the Muslim world and the success of ongoing Pakistan-backed diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Gulf region after months of uncertainty linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Across Pakistan, authorities deployed additional sanitation workers, security personnel and municipal teams to manage crowds, animal markets and waste disposal during the Eid holidays, one of the busiest annual periods in the country. The festival is also expected to generate significant economic activity for livestock farmers, traders, transporters and small businesses linked to seasonal Eid markets.

Culture

Mosques and open prayer grounds across Pakistani cities fill early in the morning as worshippers offer Eid prayers and listen to sermons emphasizing sacrifice, compassion, unity, and care for the underprivileged.



Pakistan marks Eid al-Adha with prayers for peace, regional stability

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday told the United Nations Security Council that &ldquo;water must never be weaponized,&rdquo; while referring to India&rsquo;s unilateral move to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Addressing an open debate of the UN Security Council, Dar said international treaties must be respected and disputes resolved through dialogue, justice and adherence to international law. &ldquo;Treaties must be honored and disputes must be resolved through adherence to international law, dialogue and justice, and implementation of relevant resolutions of the Council,&rdquo; he said. The remarks come amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and India following New Delhi&rsquo;s unilateral suspension of cooperation measures under the Indus Waters Treaty framework after the 2025 Pahalgam incident.&nbsp; Pakistan maintains that the treaty is a binding international agreement that cannot be suspended unilaterally. Dar described China&rsquo;s call for a strong United Nations-centered international system as &ldquo;most timely and vital.&rdquo; &ldquo;We collectively pledged in the Charter to govern international relations in a manner that saves future generations from the scourge of war,&rdquo; he told the Council. He said the UN Charter was &ldquo;not merely a legal instrument.&rdquo; &ldquo;It is the moral foundation of the international order,&rdquo; Dar said. Referring to ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic efforts involving Iran, the foreign minister said Pakistan consistently supported restraint, de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. &ldquo;Another prolonged conflict would serve no one,&rdquo; he said, warning that instability could &ldquo;endanger regional peace, disrupt global energy flows, deepen humanitarian suffering and strain an already fragile international order.&rdquo; Dar said Pakistan was making sincere efforts to facilitate a durable solution that ensured lasting peace and stability in the region while keeping maritime routes open. &ldquo;We are continuing this noble endeavour with resolve and dedication,&rdquo; he said. The foreign minister also thanked partner countries including China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar for supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at regional stability. &ldquo;The entire world is watching&hellip; we must succeed in the interest of regional and global peace and security,&rdquo; Dar said.

Foreign Affairs

Foreign minister says international treaties must be respected and disputes resolved through dialogue, justice, and adherence to international law.

‘Water must never be weaponized,’ Pakistan raises India treaty issue at UNSC

Web Desk/AFP

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.<hr>Catch up: Yesterday&rsquo;s top developments<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li style="font-size: 18px;">Tehran calls on Baghdad to ensure Iraqi territory not used to threaten Iran</li><li style="font-size: 18px;">Iran accuses US of violating ceasefire over past 48 hours</li><li style="font-size: 18px;">Strikes hit south Lebanon city as Israel expands ground operations</li><li style="font-size: 18px;">Khamenei says US regional influence declining</li><li style="font-size: 18px;">Iran says over 1,500 schools damaged during recent conflict</li></ul><hr> Lebanon says Israeli strikes kill 31 on TuesdayPublished: May 26, 2026 | 23:13 GMT | by AFP Lebanon said Israeli strikes on the country&#39;s south killed 31 people on Tuesday, as Israel said it was intensifying attacks despite a truce in its war with Hezbollah. In a statement, the health ministry said 31 people, including at least four children and three women, were killed in attacks and 40 wounded. Fourteen were killed in Burj al-Shamali near Tyre. <hr>Casualties rise as Israeli strikes hit Gaza City, Khan YounisPublished: May 26, 2026 | 01:52 GMT | by AFP &nbsp;The death toll from Israeli air strikes on the Remal neighbourhood west of Gaza City has risen to four, according to a source at al-Shifa Hospital. Ongoing Israeli artillery shelling is also targeting areas in the city of Khan Younis, as well as the Bureij and Jabalia camps, according to the report. This follows separate reports of Israeli attacks across several areas of the enclave on Tuesday, which killed 11 people.<hr> Tehran calls on Baghdad to ensure Iraqi territory not used to threaten IranPublished: May 26, 2026 | 23:52 GMT | by AFP Iran&rsquo;s semi-official Tasnim news agency reports that the deputy secretary of Tehran&rsquo;s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, called on Baghdad to take action to ensure that Iraqi territory and airspace are not used to threaten or attack Iran. According to the report, Bagheri Kani said that the roots of such threats must be eliminated, adding that Iran remains ready to engage in active cooperation with Iraq to address the issue. The remarks were made during a meeting with Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji on the sidelines of the 14th Moscow International Security Conference. <hr>

Americas

Tehran says Washington breaching ceasefire, warns it is ready to retaliate after overnight US strikes; Lebanon says strikes on killed 31 people on Tuesday, as Israel said it was intensifying attacks despite a truce in its war with Hezbollah.




LIVE: Israeli strikes kill 31 in south Lebanon 

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik has warned that attempts to undermine the Indus&nbsp;Waters Treaty could set a dangerous global precedent threatening the water rights of downstream countries across the world. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV&rsquo;s senior correspondent Saima Shabbir, on the sidelines of the fourth High-Level International Water Conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Musadik Malik said Pakistan had raised the issue before the international community not only as a national concern but as a matter affecting all downstream countries.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059320793033576785&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=45837a80478787485a76343f8ec275364ec40306&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 647px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>He said India&rsquo;s unilateral actions regarding transboundary rivers posed a serious challenge to established international water-sharing principles.&nbsp; Referring to recent legal developments, the minister said international arbitration forums had supported Pakistan&rsquo;s position by rejecting attempts to justify excessive water storage under the guise of run-of-the-river hydropower projects.He said if the precedent of suspending or undermining a water treaty was accepted, many downstream countries would face uncertainty over their water access and food security. He said it is not just Pakistan&rsquo;s issue, every downstream country in the world would be vulnerable if upstream states begin choking water flows, adding that such actions could endanger the survival, agriculture and economic stability of downstream nations. The minister said Pakistan had informed participants at the conference that water was fundamentally linked to the right to existence and should be treated as a universal right rather than merely a technical issue. Highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s dependence on water resources, Malik said the country&rsquo;s agriculture, food security and employment were deeply connected to the Indus River system.&nbsp; He further said a significant share of Pakistan&rsquo;s GDP and workforce relied on agriculture, making water security a national priority. The federal minister said Pakistan was now taking a leadership role in advocating for equitable water rights at the global level, adding that delegates, ministers and journalists attending the conference had expressed support for Pakistan&rsquo;s stance on protecting downstream countries from unilateral upstream actions.

SAT News Desk

Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik has warned that attempts to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty could set a dangerous global precedent threatening the water rights of downstream countries across the world.



Pakistan terms Indus Waters Treaty issue a global concern at Dushanbe conference

RAMALLAH: Israel has issued an expropriation order for land in the occupied West Bank near the site of a Biblical prophet&#39;s grave north of Jerusalem, an Israeli NGO reported Tuesday. The site, known as Nabi Samuel, is believed in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim tradition to include the grave of the Biblical figure of prophet Samuel, and includes a mosque owned by Palestinian religious authorities, the Waqf. &quot;This marks the first time that the (Israeli) Civil Administration has expropriated a holy site owned by the Muslim Waqf in the occupied West Bank&quot;, Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said in a statement. According to the Israeli order, dated May 9 but published this week, the area for expropriation will include 109.79 dunams (roughly 11 hectares), including access roads, agricultural land, and a mosque. The order says the decision was made &quot;for the development and preservation of the archaeological site of the Tomb of the Prophet Samuel&quot;. A source in COGAT, the Israel defence ministry body in charge of civilian matters in the Palestinian territories, said the decision was made &quot;following the refusal of Waqf officials to cooperate with the procedures required for the renovation of the tomb compound&quot;. The Palestinian Authority&#39;s Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs issued a &quot;strong condemnation&quot; of the expropriation order for Nabi Samuel. &quot;This confiscation is part of a policy aimed at suffocating the mosque and completely isolating it from its Palestinian surroundings, turning it into a Jewish archaeological site by force of arms,&quot; the ministry said in a statement. Peace Now&#39;s Yonatan Mizrahi pointed out that Israeli authorities had already taken over administration of much of the land by converting it into an Israeli national park in the 1990s, decades after demolishing a Palestinian village on the site. &quot;There was no need to decide about the expropriation of the land&quot;, Mizrahi told AFP, while Peace Now denounced &quot;the messianic agenda of the Israeli government&quot;. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. In 2025, Israel expropriated an area in the centre of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, arguing the order concerned an open area intended for roofing works and not a religious structure.

Israel has issued an expropriation order for land in the occupied West Bank near the site of a Biblical prophet's grave north of Jerusalem, an Israeli NGO reported Tuesday

Israel issues expropriation order for West Bank religious site

ISLAMABAD: Bilal bin Saqib, chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), has said Pakistan is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global digital economy, with the country&rsquo;s youth driving growth in blockchain, crypto adoption and financial technology. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV head Adil Shahzeb in Beijing, Bilal bin Saqib said Pakistan has become the world&rsquo;s third-largest consumer market for digital assets, reflecting the talent, innovation and technological awareness of its young population. He said Pakistan&rsquo;s crypto growth took place without formal institutional support, proving that the country&rsquo;s youth are capable of competing at a global level, adding that technology has eliminated geographical barriers. Bilal bin Saqib highlighted the establishment of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, an independent body created to regulate, incubate and accelerate crypto-related activities in the country. He said the authority was established within a few months, a pace faster than several leading global jurisdictions. He said international crypto exchanges including Binance and HTX are expected to enter Pakistan after receiving approvals, helping shift crypto activities from the gray market into a regulated framework focused on consumer protection, licensing and oversight. Discussing economic opportunities, Bilal bin Saqib said blockchain technology could transform sectors such as freelancing, remittances and investment. He said blockchain-based systems and stablecoins could significantly reduce transfer fees for overseas Pakistanis sending money home. He also stressed the importance of tokenization, explaining that assets such as land, stocks and bonds could be digitally divided into smaller investment units, allowing ordinary Pakistanis to invest with limited capital. Bilal bin Saqib said Pakistan&rsquo;s large youth population and growing freelancer market provide a strong foundation for future growth in blockchain and artificial intelligence. He said many countries are now approaching Pakistan to understand how it regulated the digital assets space, adding that some of the world&rsquo;s biggest technology brands are also showing interest in exploring opportunities in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for a &ldquo;Pakistan-first&rdquo; approach where young people can build billion-dollar companies within the country instead of moving abroad. He said emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence could become major drivers of economic growth and innovation in Pakistan. Bilal bin Saqib credited Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership for improving the country&rsquo;s global image and said the focus now should be on attracting investment, encouraging innovation and ensuring Pakistan secures a leading role in the future digital economy.

Economy

Bilal bin Saqib, chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), has said Pakistan is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global digital economy, with the country’s youth driving growth in blockchain, crypto adoption and financial technology

Pakistan emerging as key player in global digital economy: Bilal bin Saqib

Faraz Saeed

DUSHANBE: Pakistan on Tuesday called for a binding international legal framework to protect transboundary water rights, warning that existing global mechanisms had failed lower riparian states after the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.&nbsp;Addressing the plenary session of the 4th High-Level International Conference on Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Masood Malik said the current global water governance structure lacked effective enforcement mechanisms against unilateral actions by upper riparian countries.&nbsp;Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty between Pakistan and India, Malik described it as &ldquo;until recently, considered the most successful transboundary water treaty in the world,&rdquo; noting that it had survived wars and decades of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.&nbsp;&ldquo;Last year, it was unilaterally suspended,&rdquo; Malik told delegates. &ldquo;The treaty did not collapse. It was revealed. It was revealed that a lower riparian country&rsquo;s water rights are only as secure as the goodwill of the upper riparian state.&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister said Pakistan approached the institution that brokered the treaty after its suspension, but found there was no effective mechanism to compel compliance by a sovereign state.&nbsp;The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions following the 2025 Pahalgam incident, after which India announced suspension of cooperation measures related to the Indus Waters Treaty framework.&nbsp;Pakistan has maintained that the treaty is an internationally binding agreement that cannot be unilaterally suspended or held in abeyance.&nbsp;Malik said vulnerabilities faced by lower riparian states extended beyond South Asia and affected river basins worldwide where power asymmetries shaped water-sharing arrangements.&nbsp;Calling for reforms ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, he urged the international community to establish &ldquo;a binding international covenant on transboundary water rights&rdquo; with compulsory dispute resolution mechanisms and enforceable consequences for violations.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have had enough of committing. It is time to start complying,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Highlighting the broader global water crisis, Malik said nearly two billion people still lacked access to safe drinking water, while three billion faced water scarcity for at least one month annually.&nbsp;He said Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;Referring to melting glaciers feeding the Indus River system, recurring floods and droughts, groundwater depletion and soil degradation, the minister warned that water insecurity was intensifying across the region.&nbsp;Throughout his address, Malik cited the human impact of water scarcity, including women travelling long distances to fetch water, children dying from waterborne diseases and farmers losing ancestral lands to climate-related disasters.&nbsp;Concluding his remarks, the minister said water must be treated as a fundamental right protected under international law.&nbsp;&ldquo;Water is a right. And rights require protection,&rdquo; Malik said, adding that Pakistan stood ready to support stronger international cooperation on global water governance.

Pakistan on Tuesday called for a binding international legal framework to protect transboundary water rights, warning that existing global mechanisms had failed lower riparian states after the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Sun aligns above Holy Kaaba in rare astronomical phenomenon

Latest News

Millions perform stoning ritual in Mina as Eid al-Adha begins

Sun aligns above Holy Kaaba in rare astronomical phenomenon

IMF says Bangladesh requests new assistance program amid Iran war fallout

Pakistan marks Eid al-Adha with prayers for peace, regional stability

‘Water must never be weaponized,’ Pakistan raises India treaty issue at UNSC