Pakistan urges UN Security Council to press India on restoring Indus Waters Treaty

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take urgent notice of India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning of serious security, environmental and humanitarian consequences for millions of people.

In a letter addressed to Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, President of the Council for April, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described India’s decision to hold the treaty in abeyance as “illegal” and deeply concerning, particularly one year after its suspension amid heightened bilateral tensions.

The letter was formally conveyed by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, at UN Headquarters in New York.

Pakistan urged the Security Council to take cognisance of the situation and press India to fully restore the implementation of the treaty, resume cooperation and data-sharing mechanisms, and refrain from what Islamabad termed as “water coercion.” The letter also called on India to fulfil its international obligations in good faith.

During his engagement with the UNSC president, Ambassador Asim Ahmad also highlighted what he described as India’s continued propagation of “baseless allegations” against Pakistan, even as Islamabad remains actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to promote regional and global peace.

He further underscored that the unresolved dispute over Jammu and Kashmir remains a core source of instability in South Asia, reiterating Pakistan’s position that a just and lasting resolution in line with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is essential for durable peace.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, governs the distribution of waters from the Indus river system, granting Pakistan primary rights over the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — which are critical for its agriculture and water security. The agreement has historically been regarded as one of the most resilient accords between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, surviving multiple conflicts and prolonged periods of tension.

However, India announced on April 23, 2025, that it was placing the treaty in abeyance following a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, for which it blamed Pakistan without presenting evidence. Islamabad rejected the allegations, and the incident triggered a brief but intense military confrontation between the two countries in May 2025.

Pakistan’s latest appeal to the UNSC highlights growing concerns over the potential long-term impact of the treaty’s suspension on regional stability, water security and humanitarian conditions, as well as the broader implications for international law and conflict resolution mechanisms.