Pakistan says suspension of Indus Waters Treaty threatens other global agreements
Pakistan
It says unilaterally suspending the water resources treaty is a dangerous example
NEW YORK (Dunya News) - Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, has said the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is a test of the system of international agreements, and unilateral actions can also weaken border and trade agreements.
If the water treaty is not secure, then no treaty is secure, he added.
He highlighted the example of the Indus Waters Treaty at the Area Formula meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Saturday.
The Pakistani delegate said that unilaterally suspending the water resources treaty is a dangerous example.
Asim Iftikhar further said that if the agreement is subjected to politics, international trust will be affected. The Indus Waters Treaty is not a bilateral but a global issue.
On 23rd April 2025, India unilaterally announced holding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance.
Historically, India has employed water as an instrument of war against Pakistan. It notified Pakistan through the World Bank of its plan to put the treaty on hold and seek revision in 2003 after the Indian Parliament attack.
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Continuing the same pattern, New Delhi halted the IWT Commission meeting after the Uri incident.
Likewise, the treaty was kept in abeyance after the recent Pahalgam incident.
