Pakistan warns the United Nations that India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty constitutes weaponisation of water and endangers Pakistan water security. The statement was delivered at a UN-hosted policy roundtable.
Pakistan warns UN Indus Treaty violations represent a grave threat to water security. Ambassador Usman Jadoon spoke at the Global Water Bankruptcy Policy Roundtable on Tuesday. He labelled India’s unilateral decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance as weaponisation of water. Pakistan water security UN concerns centre on severe downstream consequences for agriculture and livelihoods. India suspends Indus Waters Treaty citing alleged material breaches. The 1960 treaty regulates the sharing of waters in the Indus basin.
Pakistan Warns UN Indus Treaty Violations
Pakistan warns UN Indus Treaty breaches in clear and firm language. Ambassador Jadoon highlighted serious violations by India since April last year. These include abrupt disruptions of downstream flows and failure to share critical hydrological data. “Pakistan’s position remains unequivocal: the treaty is legally binding and allows no unilateral suspension or alteration,” he declared. Weaponisation of water undermines regional peace and stability. Pakistan water security UN warnings stress the vulnerability of 240 million people reliant on the Indus basin.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, ensures equitable water distribution. It supplies over 80 percent of Pakistan’s irrigation needs. India suspends Indus Waters Treaty actions disrupt this long-standing arrangement. Pakistan urges adherence to established international water law principles.
India Suspends Indus Waters Treaty Actions
India suspends Indus Waters Treaty operations outside the treaty framework. Indian authorities link the move to security-related concerns. Pakistan maintains the treaty contains no clause permitting unilateral abeyance. Weaponisation of water through upstream control directly impacts lower-riparian nations such as Pakistan. Pakistan warns UN Indus Treaty violations jeopardise food production, economic stability and human security across the region.
Ambassador Jadoon noted that water insecurity now constitutes a systemic global risk. It intersects with energy, public health and broader human security challenges. For Pakistan the issue is immediate and existential amid recurring floods, droughts and accelerated glacial melt.
Pakistan Water Security UN Concerns
Pakistan water security UN concerns focus on the country’s extreme climate vulnerability. As a semi-arid lower-riparian state Pakistan already faces acute water stress. Weaponisation of water compounds existing pressures from groundwater depletion and rapid population growth. Pakistan warns UN Indus Treaty violations call for urgent collective international attention.
Pakistan pursues domestic measures to build resilience. Programmes such as Living Indus and Recharge Pakistan emphasise integrated water management, flood mitigation, irrigation system upgrades, groundwater recharge and ecosystem protection. Transboundary cooperation however remains indispensable for long-term sustainability.
Background
The Indus Waters Treaty resulted from World Bank-mediated negotiations and was signed in 1960. It assigns the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) largely to Pakistan. India suspends Indus Waters Treaty moves since last year challenge this carefully balanced allocation. Pakistan water security UN briefings underscore the binding nature of treaty obligations on both parties.
In December 2025 the Deputy Prime Minister reiterated calls for India to cease the weaponisation of water and resume full compliance. Pakistan warns UN Indus Treaty disputes carry serious implications for peace in South Asia. Weaponisation of water risks setting a harmful precedent for transboundary river basins globally.
Pakistan grapples with multiple compounding factors. The devastating 2022 floods affected vast areas. Accelerating glacial retreat threatens future water availability. Weaponisation of water heightens these existing risks. The Indus basin supports one of the largest contiguous irrigation networks in the world. Disruptions threaten widespread agricultural failure and heightened food insecurity.
What’s Next
Pakistan water security UN advocacy seeks formal recognition of water insecurity as a priority global risk ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference. Effective cooperation depends on transparency, data-sharing and respect for treaty mechanisms. Weaponisation of water requires prompt multilateral engagement. Pakistan warns UN Indus Treaty compliance will determine the trajectory of regional stability. India suspends Indus Waters Treaty actions must be addressed through established dispute resolution channels. Continued dialogue and potential arbitration offer the path to safeguard shared water resources.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, January 21st, 2026
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