India Counters Pakistan's Indus Waters Treaty Remarks at UN, Cites Terrorism as Obstacle
India delivered a strong rebuttal to comments made by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) at a United Nations conference in Tajikistan on Saturday, May 31st. Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh, addressing the forum, asserted that persistent cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan, rather than Indian actions, is the primary impediment to the treaty's effective implementation and itself constitutes a violation of the accord's spirit.
Islamabad Criticises India's Stance on Water Treaty
Speaking at the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation on Friday, Prime Minister Sharif had termed India's decision to suspend the 1960 IWT – a measure taken by New Delhi following the deadly April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack – as "weaponisation of water" and an "illegal decision." He stated that "millions of lives must not be held hostage to narrow political gains."
New Delhi Attributes Treaty Issues to Cross-Border Terrorism
In response, Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh condemned Pakistan's attempt to "misuse the forum" by raising issues outside its purview. He stated unequivocally, "the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with an ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions. Pakistan, which itself is in violation of the treaty, should desist from putting the blame for the breach of the treaty on India." Mr. Singh further noted that "undeniable fact" of fundamental changes in circumstances since the treaty was signed in 1960 – including technological advancements, demographic shifts, climate change, and the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism – necessitates a reassessment of treaty obligations. He reminded the forum that the treaty's preamble emphasizes goodwill and friendship, requiring good faith from all parties.
India's firm response at the UN conference underscores its consistent position that enduring peace and the normal functioning of bilateral agreements, including the Indus Waters Treaty, are contingent upon Pakistan taking credible and irreversible steps to end its support for cross-border terrorism. New Delhi maintains that the onus for resolving the current impasse lies with Islamabad addressing these core security concerns.
