India Accuses Pakistan of Violating Indus Waters Treaty Spirit at UN Meeting

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Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan. Representational image of a large dam and water flowing from a river surrounded by mountains and forests. Image created with Meta AI image generator by RMN News.

India Accuses Pakistan of Violating Indus Waters Treaty Spirit at UN Meeting

RMN News Report Highlights

India, through its UN Ambassador, accused Pakistan of violating the spirit of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by sponsoring terrorism and engaging in wars, citing over 20,000 Indian lives lost to cross-border terrorism.
India declared a suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in response to the Pahalgam attack, stating the decision is dependent on Pakistan permanently ceasing terrorism against India.
Critics accuse Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of exploiting the conflict with Pakistan for domestic political gain, leveraging anti-Pakistan sentiment to consolidate support among voters.
The conflict and subsequent ceasefire acceptance, mediated by the US, have led to calls for further international intervention to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

By Rakesh Raman
New Delhi | May 24, 2025

UNITED NATIONS – India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, used a United Nations Security Council meeting to strongly criticize Pakistan, accusing it of violating the spirit of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Speaking at an Arria Formula meeting* on water protection during armed conflict, Ambassador Harish dismissed Pakistan’s narrative on the treaty as “disinformation”.

India asserted that Pakistan has repeatedly violated the spirit of the treaty by initiating three wars and sponsoring decades of terrorism against India. Harish highlighted the significant human cost, stating that more than 20,000 Indian lives have been lost due to cross-border terrorism in the last four decades, mentioning the recent Pahalgam terror attack which killed 26 civilians.

India highlighted four major aspects of what it considers core violations by Pakistan: violation of the treaty spirit through wars and terrorism; obstruction to treaty modernization by blocking requests for changes to outdated provisions reflecting modern realities like dam safety and clean energy; threats to civilian infrastructure, citing attacks like the 2012 strike on the Tulbul Navigation Project by Pakistan-linked militancy; and continued use of terrorism under civilian cover.

In response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, India declared a suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, though stated this decision was not final and depended on Pakistan’s response. India indicated it might reconsider or reinstate its commitment if Pakistan genuinely and permanently ceases terrorism against India. Ambassador Harish also noted that India had formally requested updates to the treaty considering current needs, including climate pressures, clean energy demands, and dam safety, but Pakistan has blocked all such proposals.

*Understanding Arria-Formula Meetings

Arria-Formula meetings are an informal practice of the members of the UN Security Council. They are not formally provided for in the UN Charter or the Security Council’s provisional rules of procedure, but are allowed under the Council’s latitude to determine its own practices.

These gatherings are characterized as very informal and confidential, allowing Security Council members to have frank and private exchanges of views within a flexible procedural framework. They serve as a mechanism for interested Council members to hear from individuals or entities – such as high representatives of governments and international organizations, or non-State parties – whom the inviting members believe would be beneficial to hear from, or to whom they wish to convey a message. This provides an opportunity for direct dialogue on matters within the Security Council’s purview.

The practice is named after Ambassador Diego Arria of Venezuela, who initiated it in 1992 while serving as Venezuela’s representative on the Council. While Ambassador Arria convened one such meeting as the Security Council President, recent practice tends to favor these initiatives being taken by members of the Council other than the President. The member or members convening the meeting typically also chair it.

In a separate UN debate on civilian safety, Harish criticized Pakistan for bringing up the Kashmir issue while ignoring terrorism, stating that a country making no distinction between terrorists and civilians has no standing to speak on civilian protection, citing attacks from 26/11 Mumbai to Pahalgam.

However, this stance comes amid accusations from critics that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leveraging the recent military conflict with Pakistan for domestic political advantage. According to these criticisms, Modi delivered a “politically charged speech” on May 12 claiming India had “taught Pakistan a lesson,” just after a US-imposed ceasefire halted hostilities.

[ India Sends Global Delegations to Push Anti-Terror Message Amidst Contested Claims Against Pakistan ]

The conflict followed the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where India blamed Pakistan immediately without presenting evidence or agreeing to Pakistan’s suggestion for an independent investigation. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack.

Critics argue that despite reports suggesting a “contested narrative” regarding battlefield outcomes, including significant Indian losses and alleged Pakistani “dominance,” Modi is attempting to sway voters by portraying a decisive victory. These actions, including the reported threat to abrogate the IWT, are described as being based on “false rhetoric” of Pakistani sponsorship of terrorism, a claim that critics state has not been corroborated by international bodies such as the IMF, FATF, or the United Nations.

Analysts suggest that Modi, described by critics as a “communal demagogue,” is employing these moves to consolidate support among majority Hindu voters by fostering anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim sentiment, particularly in constituencies where other electoral malpractices might be insufficient. The acceptance of the US-brokered ceasefire, with President Donald Trump’s intervention, is also framed by critics as a sign of Modi’s weakness and a departure from India’s long-held position that disputes with Pakistan are bilateral.

The situation has led to calls for further international intervention, specifically from President Trump, to mediate the larger Kashmir dispute. Critics maintain that the Pahalgam attack and subsequent operations were “criminally leveraged” by Modi and his party for electoral gain, overshadowing the human cost and complexities.

Military hostilities have ceased following India’s precision attack under Operation Sindoor, but diplomatic disagreement continues.

By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.