Indus Waters Treaty to remain suspended until Pakistan changes its conduct, says India at UN

United Nations (The Uttam Hindu): India has firmly reiterated that the Indus Waters Treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan makes credible changes in its conduct and stops supporting terrorism.

Speaking at a United Nations event on the occasion of World Water Day, India’s Permanent Representative P. Harish said Pakistan must respect the sanctity of human life before talking about the sanctity of treaties.

India’s strong message to Pakistan

Harish stated that India has always acted as a responsible upper riparian nation, but responsibility must be mutual. He подчеркृत that Pakistan must completely abandon the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

His remarks came after Pakistan raised the Indus Waters Treaty issue at a UN platform, portraying itself as the affected party, even though the event focused on ensuring safe water and sanitation for all under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Treaty suspended after repeated provocations

Harish noted that India signed the treaty in 1960 in a spirit of goodwill and friendship. However, Pakistan violated that spirit by engaging in wars and supporting thousands of terror attacks, leading to the loss of innocent lives.

He referred to last year’s Pahalgam attack, claimed by The Resistance Front—linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba—as a key trigger behind India’s decision to suspend the treaty.

“Our patience and goodwill did not change Pakistan’s behavior. The treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan, a global hub of terrorism, irreversibly ends its support for terror,” he said.

Need for review of treaty

India also pointed out that significant technological, demographic and environmental changes over the past 65 years necessitate a review of the treaty. However, Pakistan has consistently refused to engage in discussions on amendments.

India highlights water initiatives

Addressing the broader theme of the event, Harish emphasized India’s commitment to achieving universal access to safe water and sanitation. He highlighted the Jal Jeevan Mission, one of the world’s largest initiatives, aimed at providing piped drinking water to rural households.

Launched in 2019, the mission has so far covered around 81.76 percent of rural households—approximately 15.8 crore homes. He also underlined the role of community participation, especially village water committees, many of which are led by women.

Harish concluded by saying that global cooperation at the United Nations should focus on strengthening national capacities, promoting technological innovation and advancing scientific collaboration, particularly for developing countries.