India Condemns Pakistan’s Misuse of UN Forum Over Indus Waters Treaty, Cites Terrorism as Key Violation

 Dushanbe, June 1, 2025, 11:20 AM IST – Tensions between India and Pakistan over the Indus Waters Treaty escalated on Saturday as India sharply criticized Pakistan for raising “unwarranted references” to the 1960 agreement during a UN conference on glaciers in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe. India accused its neighbor of violating the treaty through cross-border terrorism, urging Pakistan to cease attributing breaches of the treaty to New Delhi.

The remarks were delivered by Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh during a plenary session at the first UN conference on glaciers, a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invoked the treaty at the same forum. Sharif had accused India of endangering millions of lives by allegedly holding the treaty in abeyance “for narrow political gains,” a claim India swiftly rebuked as inappropriate for the platform.

“We are appalled at the attempt by Pakistan to misuse the forum and to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum. We strongly condemned such an attempt,” Singh stated, addressing the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation. He emphasized that the treaty, signed in 1960 with the World Bank as a guarantor, requires reassessment due to significant changes in circumstances over the decades. “These changes include technological advancements, demographic changes, climate change, and the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism,” he added.

Singh highlighted the treaty’s preamble, which underscores its foundation in goodwill and friendship, asserting that honoring the agreement in good faith is essential. “However, the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with the ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions. Pakistan, which itself is in violation of the treaty, should desist from putting the blame of the breach of the treaty on India,” he declared, pointing to terrorism as a direct impediment to the treaty’s implementation.

Sharif’s comments on Friday had drawn a strong reaction from India. According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Sharif stated, “India’s unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of the Indus Basin’s water, is deeply regrettable.” Pakistan has previously labeled India’s suspension of the treaty as an “Act of War,” with several politicians issuing threats over the issue, further straining bilateral relations.

The Indus Waters Treaty regulates the sharing of the Indus River system’s waters between India and Pakistan, a critical resource for both nations. India’s response at the UN forum underscores the broader geopolitical tensions that continue to challenge the treaty’s framework, particularly in the context of regional security and environmental concerns like glacier preservation. As climate change accelerates the melting of glaciers in the Indus Basin, the need for cooperative management of shared water resources becomes ever more pressing—a goal that remains elusive amidst ongoing disputes.