Pakistan, June 30 -- A Russian water policy expert has said that preserving the Indus Waters Treaty is essential for maintaining peace and stability in South Asia, while warning that any attempt to weaken the agreement could increase regional tensions.

Speaking at a seminar in Islamabad on the Indus Waters Treaty, Dr Roxolana Zygon said the agreement has served as the foundation for equitable water sharing between Pakistan and India for more than six decades despite periods of political and military tensions.

She noted that more than 90 per cent of Pakistan's agriculture depends on river water, while 21 major hydropower projects are linked to the Indus River system. According to her, any disruption in the natural flow of rivers could ha...