THE United Nations has issued a crucial reminder about the sanctity of international water-sharing agreements.
“It is critical that natural resources be shared based on mutually accepted treaties,” said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric during a regular briefing in New York. This statement comes at a time when New Delhi is dangerously veering away from its international commitments—most recently, by placing the IWT in “abeyance” and threatening to divert Pakistan’s water to Rajasthan through a canal.
The UN’s statement, though diplomatic in tone, is a direct acknowledgment of the rising threat India poses to regional stability by weaponizing water. India has consistently shown disdain for global norms and agreements. From flouting UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir to committing gross human rights violations in the occupied valley, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and prolonged curfews, India’s conduct has repeatedly shown contempt for the international legal framework. Now, by holding the IWT in abeyance, India is extending its aggression to an existential domain: water. The statement by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah that “the treaty will never be restored” and that water meant for Pakistan will be diverted to Rajasthan, underscores a new and alarming chapter in India’s strategy—turning a lifeline into a weapon. This also reflects deep frustration in New Delhi after facing repeated setbacks in the region and internationally. India’s humiliating defeat, most notably when met with strong Pakistani response both diplomatically and militarily, have led it to resort to coercive tactics with potentially catastrophic implications. The global community must treat this as more than just a bilateral issue. The deliberate disruption of a longstanding international treaty risks escalating tensions in the region. The UN’s recognition of the importance of treaty-based resource sharing must be followed by concrete diplomatic pressure on India to return to the framework of the IWT and cease its violations of international agreements. If left unchecked, India’s actions could destabilize not only South Asia but also set a dangerous global precedent where natural resources become tools of coercion. Pakistan has shown time and again that it is committed to peace, but never at the cost of its sovereignty or survival. Just as it has defended its territorial integrity with courage and resilience, it will not hesitate to protect its rightful share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty. The message must be clear: weaponizing water is a red line the world cannot afford to ignore.
