India Rebukes Pakistan Over Indus Waters Treaty Remarks At UN Forum: 'Appalled'

A day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif criticised India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty at an international forum, New Delhi issued a sharp response, describing the remarks as an "unwarranted reference" and asserting that it is Islamabad's persistent cross-border terrorism that is impeding the treaty's implementation.

Addressing a session of a United Nations conference on glaciers in Tajikistan-where Sharif made his comments-Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh said Pakistan was in breach of the agreement through its ongoing support for terrorism.

Photo Credit: PTI

"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," Singh stated.

India's suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty was one of several retaliatory steps following the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April, in which 26 civilians were killed by terrorists based in Pakistan.

New Delhi has consistently accused Islamabad of using cross-border terrorism as a tool of proxy warfare against India.

At the International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation, Shehbaz Sharif described the suspension as a "weaponisation of water", adding: "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."

"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 added.

Responding to these remarks, Singh argued that there had been "fundamental changes in circumstances" since the treaty's inception, which warranted a reassessment of its terms. He cited technological advancement, demographic shifts, climate change, and above all, cross-border terrorism as relevant factors.

"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," the minister said.

He further emphasised that the treaty was established "in the spirit of goodwill and friendship", and that honouring it in good faith remains essential.