Stop blaming others: India attacks Pak at UN meet

One day after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif brought up India’s halt of the Indus Waters Treaty at an international forum, New Delhi responded on Saturday, deeming it an unnecessary mention and stating that Islamabad must cease blaming India for the treaty’s violation, as ongoing cross-border terrorism from Pakistan was obstructing its enforcement.

During a UN conference on glaciers held in Tajikistan, Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that the comments made by the Pakistan Prime Minister highlighted that Pakistan was violating the treaty by engaging in terrorism.

“We are appalled at the attempt by Pakistan to misuse the forum and to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum. We strongly condemned such an attempt,” he said.

The halt of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty was part of a range of punitive actions India implemented against Pakistan following the killing of 26 civilians by Pakistan-based terrorists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. New Delhi has continuously charged Islamabad with endorsing and enabling cross-border terrorism as a component of a proxy conflict against India.

At the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called the decision to suspend the treaty a “weaponisation of water” and “India’s unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of the Indus Basin’s water, is deeply regrettable,” according to Pakistani media.

“Millions of lives must not be held hostage to narrow political gains, and Pakistan will not allow this. We will never allow the red line to be crossed,” he said.

The Union Minister countered these statements on Saturday, pointing out that it is an “undeniable fact” that there have been fundamental changes in circumstances since the Indus Waters Treaty was signed, which requires a reassessment of the treaty’s obligations. These changes include technological advancements, demographic changes, climate change and the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism, he added.

“However, the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with an ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions. Pakistan, which itself is in violation of the treaty, should desist from putting the blame for the breach of the treaty on India,” he said.

The minister said that the treaty’s preamble states it was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship, and that honouring the treaty in good faith is essential.