Pakistan Condemns India’s Move on Indus Waters Treaty in Nuclearised Region

Pakistan has raised serious concerns at the United Nations over India’s unilateral decision to hold the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, warning that such actions threaten confidence-building arrangements in a nuclearized region. The issue was highlighted during an Arria-Formula meeting of the UN Security Council, convened by Pakistan to discuss the importance of respecting international agreements.

During the meeting, speakers stressed the core principle of pacta sunt servanda, which requires that treaties and agreements be honored to uphold international law and maintain global stability. Participants reaffirmed that treaties are legally binding under international law and warned that undermining them sets a dangerous precedent for international relations.

The informal Arria-Formula session, attended by more than 40 delegations and subject-matter experts, focused on the theme of upholding the sanctity of treaties for the maintenance of international peace and security. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, presided over the meeting and outlined Pakistan’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty.

Ambassador Asim cautioned that placing the lifelines of millions under unilateral discretion carries real and immediate risks, particularly for downstream populations dependent on uninterrupted water flows. He described the Indus Waters Treaty as one of the most resilient water-sharing agreements globally, noting that it has endured wars, political crises, and prolonged tensions between Pakistan and India, including disputes over Jammu and Kashmir.

He explained that the treaty’s strength lies in its balanced framework, which clearly defines rights and obligations, promotes institutional cooperation, and provides layered dispute-resolution mechanisms designed to settle disagreements through legal and technical processes rather than unilateral measures. According to Ambassador Asim, India’s move to hold the treaty in abeyance represents a serious departure from this long-standing legal and historical framework.

He added that such action undermines a crucial confidence-building mechanism in a nuclearized region and creates uncertainty over the management of a shared and vital water resource. The ambassador also referenced decisions issued by the Court of Arbitration in August 2025, which confirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty remains in force, its dispute-resolution mechanisms are binding, and no party has the legal authority to unilaterally suspend or render the treaty ineffective.