UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has strongly condemned India’s attempt to weaponise water and violate the Indus Water Treaty of 1960. At a UN Security Council (UNSC) session, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Usman Jadoon warned against India’s “malevolent designs” to stop or divert river water meant for Pakistan.
Speaking during the Arria Formula Meeting on “Protecting Water in Armed Conflict,” Jadoon said Pakistan will not accept any such actions. “India must refrain from restricting rivers that are a lifeline for 240 million people,” he stated.
India’s Water Threats Spark Global Concern
The meeting was organised by Slovenia, along with Algeria, Panama, Sierra Leone, and the Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts. The 15-member Council discussed growing threats to water infrastructure during conflicts.
Slovenia’s State Secretary Melita Gabric opened the debate, stressing that protecting water resources and infrastructure during armed conflict is essential. “Protection of civilians under international law is non-negotiable,” she said.
This UNSC session followed India’s announcement to suspend its participation in the Indus Water Treaty after an April attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India blames Pakistan for the incident, which Pakistan denies.
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Despite a recent ceasefire between the two nuclear nations, India has not reinstated the water-sharing treaty.
Pakistan Demands UN Action on Water Violations
Ambassador Jadoon accused India of using water as a weapon. He said attacks on water resources, denial of access, and destruction of infrastructure violate international humanitarian law and treaty commitments.
“India’s illegal move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty violates international law, human rights law, and customary law,” Jadoon declared. He condemned statements from Indian leaders threatening to “starve the people of Pakistan,” calling them dangerous and perverse.
He urged the UNSC to take preventive steps. “The Security Council must act to prevent such violations from escalating into wider conflicts,” he stressed.
Pakistan Defends Indus Treaty, Calls for Compliance
The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 under World Bank mediation. It guarantees Pakistan’s rights over the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. India controls the eastern rivers under the agreement.
Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about India’s water projects that allegedly violate the treaty’s terms. Islamabad insists that any attempt to alter water flow threatens regional peace and food security.
Ambassador Jadoon concluded by supporting global calls for full compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law. He urged protection of all critical water infrastructure, especially in conflict zones.
Water Security, Peace, and Law Must Go Together
Pakistan’s strong stance at the UN highlights the urgent need to safeguard transboundary water rights and prevent conflicts over natural resources. As climate challenges grow, water will become an increasingly contested resource.
The UNSC was reminded that denying water is not just a tactical move—it’s a humanitarian crisis in the making.
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