Pakistan warns against water militarization at UN, rejects India’s stance on IWT

Pakistan has warned the United Nations against the “militarization of water”, calling it a threat to regional stability, economic security and the livelihoods of millions of people, while strongly criticizing India’s position on the Indus Water Treaty.

Speaking at a high-level event marking World Water Day, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik said politicization of water resources amounts to an attack on the social and economic fabric of Pakistan. Radio Pakistan reported.

He called India’s decision to suspend the treaty “deeply concerning”, calling it unilateral, unjustified and a violation of a long-standing cooperation framework.

“Such actions undermine not only agreements but also regional stability,” the minister said, warning that turning water into a geopolitical tool could have far-reaching consequences.

In a right of reply at the same forum, Second Secretary Aleena Majeed rejected what she called “baseless remarks” by the Indian representative and defended the legal status of the treaty.

She noted that the agreement, signed in 1960, had endured wars, crises and prolonged political tensions – including the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir – and remained the cornerstone of water sharing between the two countries.

Majeed said India’s unilateral decision to suspend the treaty last year marked a “serious departure” from its legal and historical foundations.

“No provision in the treaty authorizes unilateral suspension or modification,” she said, adding that such actions amount to the weaponization of water for limited political gains and endanger the survival of millions of people.

Referring to a 2025 additional award from the Court of Arbitration, she said the decision confirmed that the treaty remained in force, its dispute resolution mechanisms were binding and no party had the power to render it inoperative. “India must immediately return to full implementation of the treaty,” she said.

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Majeed also rejected India’s terrorism-related claims, calling them baseless and accusing New Delhi of trying to distract from its own record.

She further alleged that India had been involved in cross-border destabilization and cited what she described as evidence of support for militant groups targeting Pakistan.

Reiterating Islamabad’s position, she said Pakistan remained committed to international law and faithful implementation of treaty obligations, while strongly opposing any attempt to use water as a political instrument.

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Furthermore, Malik highlighted Pakistan’s economic vulnerability to water insecurity, noting that agriculture contributes about 25-30% of GDP and supports almost half of the workforce.

He added that more than 61% of women’s employment is linked to agriculture, highlighting the link between access to water, livelihoods and gender equity.

The minister also highlighted the human cost of climate-related disasters, saying recent floods had killed thousands, injured many more and displaced millions, further intensifying pressure on already fragile water systems.

He stressed that cooperative water management frameworks must be preserved, warning that their erosion risks worsening tensions in an already unstable region.