UN Stresses Resource Sharing Amid Indus Waters Treaty Concerns

The United Nations has highlighted the importance of sharing natural resources in accordance with mutually agreed treaties. This statement was made by a UN spokesperson on Monday in response to remarks by a high-ranking Indian minister, who suggested that New Delhi would permanently abandon the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.

India had previously suspended its involvement in the 1960 treaty, which regulates the Indus River system. This action followed an incident in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed in an attack that New Delhi has characterized as terrorism.

The IWT ensures water access to a substantial portion of Pakistan’s agricultural lands, channeling water from three rivers originating in India.

Pakistan has firmly denied any connection to the Pahalgam incident. Despite a ceasefire brokered by former US President Donald Trump, which de-escalated tensions between the two nations, the treaty remains inactive.

Over the weekend, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah stated that India intends to redirect water flowing towards Pakistan to Rajasthan through the construction of a new canal, asserting, “No, it (the treaty) will never be restored.”

When questioned about Shah’s statement, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that while he hadn’t seen the specific statement, he affirmed the critical need for natural resources to be shared based on mutually accepted treaties.

Pakistan has voiced strong condemnation of Shah’s declaration, describing it as a clear violation of international law and establishing a dangerous precedent.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan issued a statement, asserting that the statement indicates a blatant disregard for the importance of international agreements.

During a session of the National Assembly on Monday, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who spearheaded Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, denounced New Delhi’s suspension of the IWT as illegal. He stated that obstructing Pakistan’s water supply is a breach of the UN Charter.

Bhutto-Zardari cautioned that if India acts on these threats, Pakistan may be compelled to engage in another conflict, recalling Pakistan’s air force’s previous victories and its readiness to defend the nation if necessary.