ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemned India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and urged renewed global cooperation to protect shared natural resources and uphold international law.
The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, was speaking at the UN Security Council Briefing on “Environmental Impact of Armed Conflict and Climate-Driven Security Risks”, according to a statement posted on the mission’s X account on Friday.
Ambassador Ahmad said that deliberate weaponization of shared natural resources is of great concern, adding, “A textbook example is the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India earlier this year.”
He said, “For more than six decades, this treaty has stood as a model of cooperation, ensuring equitable and predictable sharing of the Indus Basin waters between Pakistan and India, even in times of war.”
Endangering millions of lives
“India's unlawful unilateral decision to suspend this framework undermines the letter and spirit of this treaty, threatens ecosystems, disrupts data sharing and endangers the lives of millions who depend on the Indus River water system for food and energy security for their very survival.”
The Pakistani envoy emphasized, “Such acts do not just harm one country. They weaken confidence in international water law and set a precedent for resource-based and driven coercion elsewhere.”
Ambassador Ahmad said, “This should be of grave concern for every member of this council and for the international community as a whole.”
Court of Arbitration's award
“Pakistan has consistently maintained that no provision of the Indus Waters Treaty permits unilateral suspension or modification,” he said.
Speaking about the continuing validity of the treaty, Ambassador Ahmad said: “The Court of Arbitration's 2025 award reaffirmed the continuing validity of the treaty and its dispute settlement mechanisms, upholding Pakistan's position that all issues must be resolved within its legal framework.”
“We therefore expect full respect for the treaty and an early return to compliance and normal functioning through the established channels,” he stressed.
‘Uphold international law’
In his address, the ambassador highlighted the grave environmental and security consequences of armed conflict.
“The Security Council must fulfill its charter responsibility to address threats to international peace and security at their very inception.”
“Second, environmental considerations could be integrated into UN peace operations and political missions where relevant.”
“Third, uphold international law, especially international humanitarian law,” Ambassador Ahmad said.
“Pakistan stands ready to work with all partners at all relevant forums to uphold international law, advance environmental recovery in conflict-affected areas, and ensure that shared natural resources serve as avenues for cooperation and not contention,” he added.
