Pakistan condemns India’s ‘weaponization of water’, defends Indus Waters Treaty at UN

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan strongly rebuffed accusations from the Indian delegation during a high‑level World Water Day event on Thursday, accusing New Delhi of undermining the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and “weaponizing” shared water resources for political ends.

In a right of reply delivered by Pakistan’s Second Secretary Aleena Majeed, Pakistan rejected what it called “baseless remarks” by the Indian representative, insisting that the unilateral holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty by India last year in April represents a grave departure from this legal and historical legacy.

She stated that concluded in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty has withstood the test of times, wars crises, and political tensions, between India and Pakistan, including the longstanding dispute on Jammu and Kashmir. 

Majeed told the assembly that no provision in the treaty permits unilateral suspension or modification, and labelled India’s move to place the pact in abeyance last year as a “grave departure” from its legal and historical legacy. She pointed to recent findings by a Court of Arbitration no party has the legal authority to unilaterally suspend or render it inoperative. India must revert immediately to full and complete implementation of the IWT.

She also strongly rejected entirely baseless statement and accusations by the Indian representative on the issue of terrorism. 

She said that India’s attempts to deflect attention through unfounded allegations of terrorism cannot conceal its record of sponsorship of terrorism across its borders, perpetration of state terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, global state-backed assassination campaign including in North America, and state patronage of violence against its minorities.

There is credible evidence of India’s sponsorship of terrorist groups, including the TTP, Fitna Al Khwarij, and BLA, Fitna Hindustan, which have carried out attacks in Pakistan, resulting in loss of lives of thousands of Pakistanis.

She added that Pakistan reiterate its firm and unequivocal rejection of all attempts to weaponize water and to use it for political gains. Pakistan remains firmly committed to international law and to the faithful performance of treaty obligations, she said.