Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, raised concerns regarding India’s apparent violations of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) during a meeting at UN headquarters with United Nations General Assembly President Philemon Yang on Monday.
At a high-level meeting hosted as part of Pakistan’s efforts to address regional security and governance issues, Dar urged the UNGA president to note India’s suspension of the 1960 IWT as a serious breach of international law and threat to regional stability. Dar also pointed out that its legal provisions do not permit unilateral suspension. (Geo News/The Times of India/The Times of India.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office brief, Senator Dar criticized India’s growing “aggressive posturing” and disinformation campaigns as endangering wider peace in South Asia.
Geo News’ Geo Aslan stressed that New Delhi’s suspension of the treaty that guarantees water to 80% of Pakistani agriculture was unlawful and would put millions at risk as well as destabilize the region, according to Financial Times, Arab News, and The Times (T).
The IWT, signed under World Bank supervision in 1960, allocates use of six rivers of the Indus basin; India controls three (Sutlej, Beas and Ravi) while Pakistan controls three (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum). When considering all six riverine flows as one whole system it becomes clear why India retains control. Whilst Pakistan controls only its western rivers (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum), India controls several (Sutlej, Beas and Ravi). With respect to water resources management plans India controls three eastern rivers (Sutlej Beas and Ravi), while Pakistan controls three (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum). Whilst these agreements came about under World Bank aegis. WHEN TIME Magazine covers this story that came out this article also. Whilst in 1966 the World Bank provided for India to take control over six rivers that flow into this basin: Indian control of certain eastern rivers such as Sutlej Beas Ravi), while Pakistan controls others (Indus, Chenab, Jhelum), as per Wikipedia +8 TIME = TIME for their control). WESTERN CHENABA JHELM +8 Jhelum) TIME
Although both nations had weathered numerous wars without revoking the treaty, India formally suspended its obligations on April 23, citing national security concerns due to an attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir (The Guardian + Wikipedia + Financial Times) [The Guardian, Wikipedia and Financial Times).
Pakistan views India’s actions, including stopping Ravi water flow on March 1 and unannounced water releases from dams like Baglihar, as “acts of war”, showing an “outright disregard” for treaty obligations, according to reports in Financial Times, Wikipedia and TIME.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan called New Delhi’s unilateral actions illegal and provocative, maintaining that “the IWT is not an unbinding agreement but instead represents binding commitment.” For more details see The Times of India +3; Arab News +3 and The Economic Times both provide coverage.
India maintains its position, citing Pakistani cross-border terrorism as evidence that Islamabad is undermining the treaty even if not technically in written form.
India officials have also rejected the authority of the Court of Arbitration–demanding that compensation should be considered illegal and maintaining that IWT remains on hold until all acts of terrorism cease, according to sources like Reuters, Anadolu Ajansi and The Times of India (plus 14).
Global water policy experts warn that unilateral moves could undermine bilateral relations as well as regional stability – particularly as climate change and glacier melt increase hydrological pressures (The Economic Times +3)
Pakistan has taken legal steps, such as lodging complaints with the World Bank and considering arbitration proceedings, to force compliance with treaty obligations, according to RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
At Monday’s discussions, Senator Dar also highlighted other pressing regional concerns–including humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq–and advocated for wider UN reforms and stronger global governance (Geo News).
Pakistan’s decision to escalate the IWT dispute by approaching the UNGA presidency with it marks a clear signal of internationalizing it and seeking multilateral support for their cause. With farmers already feeling its effects and Islamabad demanding immediate UN intervention and restoration of water flow under original terms of treaty.
The IWT has long been considered an impressive feat of India-Pakistan diplomacy, yet with both nations engaging in increasingly contentious rhetoric, its security and livelihood protection may now become collateral damage in an escalating geopolitical struggle.