India Accuses Pakistan of Disinformation and Treaty Violations at UN Security Council
NEW YORK – In a forceful address at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), India’s Permanent Representative, Parvathaneni Harish, delivered a scathing critique of Pakistan’s conduct concerning the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). Speaking at an Arria Formula meeting on "Protecting Water in Armed Conflict – Protecting Civilian Lives," Ambassador Harish categorically rejected Pakistan’s narrative, accusing the nation of spreading disinformation and violating the treaty’s core principles through its support for cross-border terrorism. He emphasized India’s commitment to responsible water management despite facing persistent security threats emanating from Pakistan.
Ambassador Harish underscored the treaty’s historical context, recalling its signing 65 years ago as a testament to goodwill and friendship between the two nations. However, he lamented that Pakistan has repeatedly betrayed this spirit, initiating three wars and orchestrating countless terror attacks that have claimed over 20,000 Indian lives in the past four decades. He specifically cited the recent attack in Pahalgam as a stark example of Pakistan’s persistent use of terrorism to destabilize the region and jeopardize the lives of innocent civilians.
The Indian representative highlighted the evolving geopolitical landscape since the treaty’s inception, citing increased security concerns due to cross-border terrorism, growing clean energy demands, climate change impacts, and demographic shifts. He noted the advancements in dam infrastructure technology, emphasizing the need for modifications to existing structures to ensure safety and operational efficiency. Ambassador Harish drew attention to the vulnerability of these critical infrastructure projects to terrorist attacks, referencing the 2012 assault on the Tulbul Navigation Project in Jammu and Kashmir as a chilling example of the security risks faced by India.
Ambassador Harish reiterated India’s repeated attempts to engage Pakistan in discussions to modify the treaty to reflect current realities. However, he lamented Pakistan’s persistent obstructionism, which prevents India from fully exercising its legitimate rights under the agreement. This intransigence, coupled with Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, leaves India with no choice but to suspend the Indus Water Treaty.
India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty, announced in April 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack, marks a significant escalation in the long-standing water dispute between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries, which flow through both countries. India controls the upper reaches of the river system, while Pakistan is primarily a downstream riparian state. The treaty allocates the waters of the eastern rivers – the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej – to India, and the western rivers – the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum – to Pakistan.
The core issue of contention revolves around India’s construction of hydroelectric projects on the western rivers, which Pakistan alleges violate the treaty’s provisions. India maintains that its projects are in full compliance with the treaty and are essential for meeting its growing energy needs. Furthermore, India accuses Pakistan of exploiting the ambiguity within the treaty to hinder India’s development projects. The suspension of the treaty throws the future of water sharing in the Indus basin into uncertainty, raising concerns about the potential for increased tensions and conflict between the two countries.
India argues that the treaty’s provisions need updating to reflect the changing geopolitical and environmental landscape. The treaty does allow for amendments, but requires mutual agreement between the two countries, which has proven elusive due to the deep-seated mistrust and animosity. India contends that Pakistan’s ongoing support for cross-border terrorism creates a security environment that necessitates modifications to ensure the safety and security of its water infrastructure projects. The Pahalgam attack, which India attributes to Pakistan-based terrorists, served as the catalyst for the suspension of the treaty.
Pakistan, however, vehemently denies India’s accusations, claiming that its construction of dams violates the treaty and deprives Pakistan of its rightful share of water. Pakistan portrays itself as the aggrieved party, accusing India of weaponizing water and jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis who depend on the Indus River system for agriculture and other essential needs. Pakistan’s consistent denial of its role in sponsoring cross-border terrorism further complicates the issue and fuels mistrust between the two countries.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating water dispute between India and Pakistan. The World Bank, the original broker of the treaty, has called for dialogue and urged both parties to adhere to the treaty’s provisions. The UN Security Council has also addressed the issue, with several member states emphasizing the importance of resolving the dispute peacefully and avoiding any actions that could escalate tensions.
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty underscores the critical importance of transboundary water cooperation, particularly in regions facing escalating security challenges and climate change impacts. Finding a sustainable and equitable solution to the Indus water dispute is essential for ensuring regional stability and preventing further conflict. The international community has a crucial role to play in facilitating dialogue and mediating a resolution that addresses the legitimate concerns of both India and Pakistan.