Brussels (National Times) The Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels, in collaboration with CEPS, organized a seminar titled “Transboundary Water Resources: A Weaponised Global Common” on 18 June 2026, bringing together policymakers, researchers, legal experts, academics, and practitioners to discuss water security, transboundary cooperation, and the peaceful management of shared water resources.

The keynote address was delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar through a video-recorded message. Reaffirming the importance of treaty-based transboundary water governance, respect for international law, and multilateral cooperation, he recalled the enduring significance of the Indus Waters Treaty and emphasized that water must never be used as an instrument of coercion. He also called for enhanced international cooperation on water security.

In his introductory remarks, Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium Rahim Hayat Qureshi underscored that transboundary water resources are critical to regional stability, global security, and sustainable development. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and established legal mechanisms.

The seminar brought together Federal Minister Senator Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, Policy Officer at Water Europe Madalena Cepeda, Senior Researcher at Utrecht University and Energy Law In-house Counsel Cathy Suykens, international arbitration expert and former counsel for the Government of Pakistan in Indus Waters Treaty matters Feisal Hussain Naqvi, Head of Climate Programme at CEPS Isabel Scheckenbach, and Founder of Captiv8 Strategies and Editor of The Pakistan Playbook Danish Qayyum.

The event attracted nearly one hundred European policymakers, researchers, legal experts, academics, and practitioners, who exchanged views on climate vulnerability, water security, transboundary cooperation, rule-based governance, and the peaceful management of shared water resources.