Pakistan has once again appealed to the United Nations for its rights as a lower riparian state, warning that India's actions are pushing it toward an acute water crisis. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar sent a letter to the President of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres, highlighting New Delhi's unilateral suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) a year ago as a brazen violation of international law.
Allegations of Water Terrorism
Dar's letter asserts that India's use of hydro mechanisms as instruments of coercion amounts to water terrorism. Pakistan has stated unequivocally that it could go to war if India does not suspend the blocking of downstream water and the construction of illegal hydro-electrical projects. The letter specifically cites the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II run-of-the-river project in Occupied Kashmir, which Pakistan claims is an attempt to alter the IWT-governed flow and use of western rivers.
Multiple Projects Planned
According to Dar's letter, India has planned at least 17 such projects on Indus waterways, which could prove disastrous for regional peace and security. Pakistan views these as a threat not only to its water, food, and economic security but also to regional stability.
Call for International Intervention
Pakistan urges the UN Security Council and the World Bank, as the architect of the IWT, to hold India accountable to its international commitments and ensure compliance with established water-sharing protocols. The letter also references the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favor of Pakistan's position on western rivers and maximum pondage limits.
Need for Constructive Dialogue
Pakistan calls on India to advance past the Ratle and Kishanganga project disputes, fully honor its IWT obligations, and engage in a constructive regional dialogue on climate change. The weaponization of water, Pakistan warns, has dangerous implications for both countries and the wider region.
