Pakistan has warned the United Nations that India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty threatens water and food security for millions downstream. Speaking at a UN forum Islamabad’s envoy called New Delhi’s unilateral move to hold the decades-old treaty in abeyance “the weaponization of water,” saying it undermines a framework that has long governed shared rivers and sustained Pakistan’s agriculture and livelihoods.
The 1960 treaty covers the Indus River basin which provides more than 80 percent of Pakistan’s irrigation water and supports over 240 million people. Pakistani officials say the treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally and have raised concerns over sudden changes in river flows and the withholding of critical hydrological data.
Experts warn that water insecurity could affect food production energy systems and human security particularly in semi-arid regions already stressed by climate change and rapid population growth. Pakistan has urged India to respect international water law and called on the global community to uphold cooperation between countries sharing river systems.
The issue comes ahead of a major UN water conference with Islamabad emphasizing that any use of water as a political tool risks regional stability and humanitarian crises. As tensions rise over transboundary water governance Pakistan continues to advocate for dialogue and adherence to the treaty to ensure the safety and livelihoods of those dependent on the Indus Basin.
