Indus Waters Treaty to stay suspended till Pakistan ‘changes course’: India at UN

United Nations — India has made it clear that the Indus Waters Treaty will continue to remain suspended unless Pakistan takes firm and irreversible action against terrorism.

Addressing a UN gathering marking World Water Day, India’s envoy P Harish said Pakistan cannot expect treaty commitments to be honoured while continuing to support terror activities.

He emphasised that India had upheld its responsibilities under the treaty for decades, but Pakistan’s actions — including wars and terror attacks — have eroded the foundation of trust on which the agreement was built.

The treaty was put in abeyance after the Pahalgam attack linked to The Resistance Front, an outfit associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. Harish said India’s patience had run out after repeated provocations.

He also noted that India had proposed revisiting certain provisions of the treaty to reflect modern realities such as climate change and population pressures, but Pakistan declined to engage in discussions.

Highlighting India’s domestic efforts, Harish spoke about the Jal Jeevan Mission, which has significantly expanded access to clean drinking water in rural areas.

He concluded by urging countries at the United Nations to work together on common challenges like water security, rather than allowing political disputes to overshadow global priorities.

With inputs from IANS