NEW YORK/ISLAMABAD – June 24
The United Nations has called on countries to respect international treaties governing the sharing of natural resources, following a provocative statement from India’s Home Minister threatening to permanently suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) — a decades-old agreement critical to Pakistan’s agriculture.
The treaty, signed in 1960, ensures Pakistan’s access to water from three rivers originating in India and irrigates nearly 80% of its farmland. Despite growing political tensions, the IWT has long been seen as a rare example of sustained cooperation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
However, that balance now appears to be under threat.
In a recent interview with The Times of India, Home Minister Amit Shah declared that India would redirect the waters flowing into Pakistan toward Rajasthan by constructing a canal, effectively bypassing the treaty’s terms.
“No, it (the treaty) will never be restored,” he said bluntly.
His remarks have drawn sharp criticism, not only from Pakistan but also from international observers. When asked about Shah’s comments during a press briefing in New York, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric didn’t refer directly to the statement but stressed:
“It is critical that natural resources be shared based on mutually accepted treaties.”
Pakistan’s reaction was swift and forceful.
“The statement reflects a brazen disregard for the sanctity of international agreements,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan. Islamabad sees the threat as a clear breach of international law and a dangerous precedent that undermines global norms.
Tensions have been simmering between the two countries since the Pahalgam incident, which India blames on Pakistani-backed militants — a claim Pakistan has categorically denied. Though a ceasefire brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump helped pause hostilities, the broader diplomatic relationship remains strained.
Speaking on the floor of Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the Indian move in strong terms.
“Threatening to block Pakistan’s water violates the UN Charter,” he said, warning that such actions could lead to devastating consequences.
“If India follows through on this, Pakistan will be forced to fight another war,” Bhutto-Zardari said, adding that Pakistan’s military — including its air force — had previously defeated Indian aggression and would do so again if necessary.
As rhetoric escalates on both sides, the future of one of the world’s most vital water-sharing agreements hangs in the balance — and with it, the fragile peace in South Asia.
