At UN, Pak raises Kashmir issue and Indus Waters Treaty

On Tuesday, Pakistan brought up the Kashmir matter and the continuing conflict surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty with India at the United Nations.

“Jammu and Kashmir remains one of the oldest disputes on the agenda of the UN Security Council. It is an internationally recognised disputed territory, the final disposition of which is to be made in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. No cosmetic measures can serve as a substitute for the fundamental and inalienable right of self determination of the Kashmiris as guaranteed by the relevant Security Council resolutions,” said Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar while addressing an open-high level debate at the UN.

Dar is in New York as Pakistan holds the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July. Dar also raised the ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over the Indus Waters Treaty, which New Delhi placed into abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attacks in April.

“A 65-year-old Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan is a noteworthy example of dialogue and diplomacy working for peacefully arriving at a water sharing arrangement between two neighbours. The treaty has withstood periods of trials and tribulations in bilateral relations. It is most unfortunate and regrettable that India has chosen to illegally and unilaterally hold this treaty in abeyance on baseless grounds with the intention of withholding the flow of water to 240 million people of Pakistan, who rely on it for their livelihood and survival,” Dar went on to say.

India is anticipated to reply to Dar’s address at the UN.

It was previously disclosed that New Delhi intends to strongly contest significant initiatives Islamabad has scheduled at the UN. For instance, Islamabad is eager to elevate the status of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation within the United Nations. Its second hallmark event will be a briefing on the collaboration between the OIC and the UN. The OIC consists of 57 member countries from Asia, Africa, and West Asia. Established in 1969, the organization has consistently scrutinized and condemned India’s management of Jammu and Kashmir, especially following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Pakistan has advocated for a strong collaboration between the UN and the OIC regarding critical issues of global governance and international security. Nonetheless, it is recognized that India has anxieties regarding the OIC evolving into a significant regional ally for the UN organization’s varied and geographically scattered members. Considering the OIC’s earlier stances on matters important to New Delhi, India is anticipated to collaborate with nations on the UN Security Council regarding these issues.