India Hits Back at UN: Pakistan Can't Expect Water Cooperation While Fueling Terror That Killed 20,000 Indians

The United Nations (The Uttam Hindu): reports that India has accused Pakistan of breaching the Indus Water Treaty, claiming it has undermined the treaty's spirit of goodwill through numerous terrorist attacks and by hindering necessary infrastructure updates for safety.

“In spite of this, India has displayed remarkable patience and generosity,” stated India’s Permanent Representative P Harish, addressing what he described as Pakistan’s misinformation campaign regarding New Delhi's suspension of the treaty. “India has now declared that the Treaty will be put on hold until Pakistan, recognized as a global hub of terrorism, credibly and permanently ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. It is evident that Pakistan is the one violating the Indus Water Treaty, not India,” he emphasized.

After the massacre of 26 people by Pakistan-based terrorists last month, India said it was suspending the treaty reached in 1960 under the aegis of the World Bank to provide Pakistan a consistent share of the water from the Indus and its allied water resources.

Speaking at an informal meeting of the Security Council on protecting water in armed conflict, Harish outlined the problems that have arisen since the treaty was signed.

“Far-reaching fundamental changes have taken place not only in terms of escalating security concerns through cross-border terror attacks, but also growing requirements for producing clean energy, climate change, and demographic change”, he said.

While the technology for dam infrastructure improved to ensure safety and more efficient water use, “some of the old dams are facing serious safety concerns”.

He said that New Delhi formally asked Islamabad on several occasions in the last two years to discuss modifications of the treaty to no avail. “Pakistan has continued to consistently block any changes to this infrastructure, and any modifications of the provisions, which are permissible under the treaty,” Harish said.

Harish emphasised that while the fundamental basis of the treaty laid out in its preamble is a spirit of goodwill and friendship, Pakistan has inflicted on India three wars and thousands of terror attacks. He added that these cynical acts continue to endanger the safety of our projects and the lives of civilians.

"In the last four decades, more than 20,000 Indian lives have been lost in terror attacks, the most recent of which was the dastardly targeted terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam last month. In fact, in 2012, terrorists even attacked the Tulbul Navigation Project in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.