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Key Points

The UN emphasized honoring water-sharing treaties after India's Amit Shah declared plans to redirect Indus waters to Rajasthan. PM Modi suspended the 1960 treaty following cross-border terrorism linked to Pakistan. The agreement, originally signed by Nehru and Ayub Khan, has long been contentious between the nuclear rivals. Pakistan warns any water diversion would be treated as an act of war, escalating tensions further.

Key Points: UN Urges India Pakistan to Share Indus Waters as Per Treaty

  • UN responds to Amit Shah's Indus Treaty remarks
  • Modi suspended water sharing after Pahalgam terror attack
  • 1960 pact signed by Nehru and Ayub Khan
  • Pakistan warns water diversion means war
2 min read

Natural resources should be shared based on treaties: UN spokesperson on IWT

UN stresses treaty-based water sharing after Amit Shah vows to divert Indus waters to Rajasthan amid India-Pakistan tensions

"It is critical that natural resources be shared, based on mutually accepted treaties - UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric"

United Nations, June 24

Natural resources should be shared based on treaties, the UN spokesperson said in the context of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

A reporter asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at his daily briefing on Monday about the reported statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the Indus Water Treaty will “never be restored”.

Dujarric said that while he had not seen the quote by Shah, “It is critical that natural resources be shared, based on mutually accepted treaties”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi put the water-sharing arrangement under the treaty in abeyance as a punitive measure against Islamabad after the Pahalgam terrorist attack launched in April by The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayiba, an internationally sanctioned terrorist organisation.

In an interview with The Times of India over the weekend, Shah said, “We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal”.

“Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably”, he added.

PM Modi said last month that the treaty had been badly negotiated and did not allow for demographic and other changes.

The treaty to share the river's waters was facilitated by the World Bank and signed in 1960 by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan’s dictator Ayub Khan.

Without being specific about what he envisaged, PM Modi said, “India's water earlier used to go outside; it will now be used for India's interests and will be utilised for the country”.

Pakistan has said that it would consider withholding the Indus River water ”an act of war”.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments in HTML/Tailwind CSS format:
R
Rajesh K.
Finally! Our government is taking strong steps to protect India's water rights. Why should we keep giving water to Pakistan when they support terrorism against us? Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
P
Priya M.
While I understand the anger, we must be careful with water diplomacy. Rajasthan farmers desperately need water, but completely stopping Pakistan's share might escalate tensions. There should be a middle path.
A
Amit S.
The 1960 treaty was indeed one-sided. Our population has grown 3x since then while water availability decreased. Time for renegotiation based on current realities, not outdated agreements.
S
Sunita R.
UN should first ask Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism before lecturing us about treaties. Water is our natural resource - we have every right to use it for our people's welfare.
V
Vikram J.
As someone from Rajasthan, I welcome this decision wholeheartedly! For decades we've suffered water shortages while our rivers flowed to Pakistan. Enough is enough - our farmers deserve this water more.
N
Neha T.
The government should also focus on water conservation and better distribution within India first. Many Indian cities face water crises while we debate about Pakistan. Charity begins at home!

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