Pakistan Highlights India’s Water Treaty Breaches to UNGA President

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On July 22, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Philemon Yang to express Pakistan’s concerns regarding alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India. Pakistan accused India of unilaterally suspending aspects of the treaty, warning that this could severely affect Pakistan’s agricultural sector and regional stability.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, allocates control over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas) to India, while Pakistan has rights over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab). Pakistan claims that India’s decision in April 2025 to suspend cooperation under the treaty, following a militant attack in Kashmir, disrupts data sharing and water flow management critical to Pakistan’s irrigation systems, which depend on these waters for about 80% of agricultural needs.

Mohammad Ishaq Dar emphasized to the UNGA President that India’s actions violate the treaty’s provisions and international water laws, potentially destabilizing peace in South Asia. Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) described any interference with its water supply as a serious threat to national security.

India’s move followed a militant attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which New Delhi attributes to groups operating from Pakistan. India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that cooperation under the treaty may not resume, indicating intentions to adjust water usage upstream. Legal experts have noted that the treaty does not permit unilateral suspension, making India’s actions contentious.

The situation raises concerns over food security in Pakistan, given the country’s dependence on the Indus basin for irrigation. There are calls for both nations to engage in diplomatic dialogue and seek resolution through established treaty mechanisms and international mediation to avoid escalation of the dispute.