Pakistan has warned the United Nations (UN) that India’s decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold has sparked an “unprecedented crisis” for its water security and could threaten regional stability.
Islamabad’s concern comes amid rising tensions between the two neighbours, with officials in Pakistan calling the move part of a broader challenge to its access to critical water resources.
At an international water policy meeting hosted by Canada and the UN University, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Usman Jadoon, described New Delhi’s actions as the “weaponisation of water.” He accused India of breaching the 1960 treaty—a pact long seen as a reliable framework for managing and sharing the Indus River system.
Accusations of treaty violations
Jadoon alleged that India’s recent conduct has included “unannounced disruptions of downstream water flows and the withholding of critical hydrological data.” He claimed these actions have made water supplies more unpredictable for Pakistan, a country that depends heavily on the Indus basin for agriculture and everyday life.
Under the original treaty, India has unrestricted use of the “eastern rivers” (Sutlej, Beas and Ravi), while Pakistan relies on flows from the “western rivers” (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab). But since April last year, when India halted sharing flood warnings and key seasonal water data with Pakistan, Islamabad says it has struggled to anticipate water levels and plan agricultural needs effectively.
Water insecurity a growing concern
Jadoon stressed that water insecurity is not theoretical for Pakistan, but it’s a “lived reality.” He pointed to the country’s semi-arid climate, rapid population growth, glacier melt, drought and flood cycles as factors that already strain water systems.
According to him, the Indus basin supports more than 80% of Pakistan’s agricultural water needs and sustains the livelihoods of over 240 million people.
By raising the alarm at the United Nations, Pakistan hopes to draw international attention to what it sees as a deepening crisis.
