Pakistan Addresses India’s Indus Waters Treaty Violations at UNGA

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Pakistan has formally expressed concerns to United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Philemon Yang regarding India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), describing the move as a threat to national survival. On July 22, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar characterized India’s action as a violation of international law that endangers Pakistan’s agricultural sector.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates water from the eastern rivers—Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas—to India, while Pakistan controls the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. In April 2025, following a militant attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists, India announced the suspension of data sharing related to river flows under the treaty. This suspension threatens Pakistan’s irrigation and flood management systems, with approximately 80% of Pakistan’s farmland dependent on these waters, according to Minister Dar.

Pakistan’s National Security Committee has condemned the suspension, describing it as a serious escalation that could adversely affect food security. Pakistan denies any involvement in the attack that India attributes to cross-border terrorism.

India’s suspension of treaty provisions has also been linked to plans to redirect water flows to Rajasthan, as stated by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah. Pakistani legal experts, including Ahmer Bilal Soofi, have noted that the treaty does not provide for unilateral suspension of its terms.

The suspension affects critical flood warnings and irrigation planning in Pakistan. Farmers and agricultural representatives have expressed serious concerns about the potential impact on livelihoods.

Pakistan’s appeal to the UNGA calls for diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute and urges the international community to ensure India’s compliance with the IWT. Given India’s upstream control of the rivers, Pakistan faces potential risks of drought or flooding that could impact millions. Failure to address the issue diplomatically may increase regional tensions and threaten stability in South Asia.