Geneva, March 20: India has officially defended its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, linking the future of the water-sharing pact to Pakistan’s conduct regarding regional security. Speaking at a United Nations forum, Permanent Representative Harish Parvathaneni asserted that India acted in good faith for over sixty years, but noted that continued hostility from Islamabad has forced a change in policy.
The Indian representative declared that the 1960 treaty is currently in abeyance until there is a verified end to state-sponsored terrorism. Parvathaneni affirmed that Pakistan has orchestrated thousands of terror attacks and three wars against India, leading to immense loss of life. He stated that the global community recognizes Pakistan as an epicentre of terror, and maintained that no nation can be expected to uphold a technical treaty while its security is actively being compromised.
The narrative from New Delhi also touched upon the technical obsolescence of the original agreement. Parvathaneni stated that demographic changes and new dam infrastructure technologies necessitate a modern approach that Pakistan has refused to negotiate. He affirmed that as a responsible upper riparian state, India has sought dialogue, but those efforts were met with silence or rejection.
During the proceedings, India also shared details of its community-led water initiatives and the role of women in rural drinking water management. However, the envoy remained firm on the bilateral issue, stating that treaties do not exist in a vacuum. He asserted that the responsibility for the treaty’s current status lies with Pakistan, maintaining that the neighboring country must prioritize the lives of people over political rhetoric.
