SCO can provide a platform for dialogue and regional stability: Masood Khan
Former diplomat warns India creating 'fait accompli' on Chenab water diversion
Islamabad : Former Ambassador of Pakistan to the US, China and the UN, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan has said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is emerging as an important platform for regional dialogue, stability and cooperation amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, commenting on the recent SCO meeting, Sardar Masood Khan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address carried important messages on regional peace and security. He particularly highlighted the Prime Minister’s assertion that “water was the lifeline of the region and could not be allowed to be used as a weapon.”He said the water issue had gained greater significance in light of India’s actions regarding the Indus Waters Treaty and its ongoing hydropower projects.
Referring to the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration, he said international legal positions had also raised questions about India’s unilateral steps.
Sardar Masood Khan expressed concern that India was continuing construction of hydropower projects and seeking to divert Chenab River waters towards the Sutlej and Rajasthan, warning such moves could create a fait accompli before Pakistan-India negotiations resume.
Recalling the experience of Baglihar and Kishanganga projects, he stressed the need for sustained diplomatic attention and adherence to international commitments.
On US-Iran tensions, he said economic pressure was becoming a key instrument and was impacting not only Iran but also China, India, Pakistan, Türkiye and Gulf states. He noted the standoff had created uncertainty in energy and shipping markets, with disruptions to oil tankers and higher insurance premiums. He emphasized that diplomacy remained the most important pathway to prevent escalation. Pakistan, he said, was playing a constructive role along with Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to encourage Washington and Tehran to return to negotiations.“America cannot get out of the region,” he said, adding that the US would maintain its presence while regional countries simultaneously strengthened their own security and cooperation mechanisms.
