'Pakistan Violating Indus Waters Treaty Through Terrorism': India Slams 'Misuse' Of UN Glaciers Conference
India slammed Pakistan for violating the Indus Waters Treaty through cross-border terrorism, hindering its implementation. MoS Kirti Singh condemned Pakistan's misuse of a UN forum after Shehbaz Sharif's remarks.
India has asserted that Pakistan should stop blaming it for breaches of the Indus Waters Treaty, citing unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistani soil as a major obstruction to the treaty’s implementation. Speaking at the plenary session of the first United Nations conference on glaciers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Friday, Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said, “Pakistan itself is violating the treaty through terrorism.”
“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, as per news agency PTI.
He pointed out that significant changes in circumstances since the treaty was signed in 1960 call for a reassessment of its obligations. “These changes include technological advancements, demographic changes, climate change, and the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism,” he said.
The Minister emphasised that the treaty’s preamble highlights it was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship, and that honouring it in good faith is essential. However, he noted that persistent cross-border terrorism from Pakistan undermines the ability to implement the treaty in accordance with 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,” Singh added.
Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Remarks On Indus Waters Treaty Abeyance
The statement comes in response to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, where he warned that his country would not allow India to “cross the red line by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and endangering millions of lives for narrow political gains.”
According to Dawn, Sharif described India’s decision as “unilateral and illegal” and said it was “deeply regrettable.”
India had announced the suspension of the treaty following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. The move was part of a series of punitive actions against Pakistan.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered in 1960 with the World Bank as a signatory, governs the sharing of the Indus Basin’s waters between India and Pakistan.
The three-day UN conference, which concludes on Saturday, is being attended by over 2,500 delegates from 80 UN member states and 70 international organisations. The event aims to highlight the crucial role of glaciers in maintaining ecological balance and addressing water-related challenges globally.
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