Pakistan’s latest attempt to secure Canada’s backing for the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has received no public support, after Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand declined to address the issue during her two‑day visit to Islamabad. The appeal was made by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who urged Canada to support Islamabad’s demand for the immediate reinstatement of the landmark water‑sharing agreement with India.
Dar criticised India’s April 2025 decision to place the treaty “in abeyance,” calling it a destabilising move that has added “a new dynamic into an already volatile security situation.” Pakistan has repeatedly argued that India’s suspension of the treaty threatens regional stability, especially given ongoing tensions between the two nuclear‑armed neighbours.
However, Anand offered no comment on the matter during the joint press briefing, and Canada’s official press release following the meeting made no mention of the treaty. Diplomatic observers say the silence signals Ottawa’s reluctance to be drawn into a bilateral dispute between India and Pakistan — particularly one involving sensitive water‑sharing arrangements and long‑standing geopolitical friction.
The lack of support is a setback for Islamabad, which has been seeking international backing after India halted participation in treaty mechanisms and paused dispute‑resolution processes. Pakistan views external pressure as essential to restoring the treaty’s functioning, but Western governments have largely avoided taking positions.
The episode also highlights Pakistan’s broader diplomatic challenge: rallying international partners at a time when global attention is focused on other crises, including the US–Iran conflict and shifting alliances across the Gulf.