The United Nations has declared India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty illegal, strongly endorsing Pakistan’s long-standing stance on the decades-old water-sharing agreement.
In a detailed report, UN special experts warned that any disruption to water flows under the treaty threatens the fundamental rights of millions of people in Pakistan and violates established principles of international law. The experts made it clear that no party has the authority to suspend or terminate the Indus Waters Treaty on its own, as the agreement is strictly bilateral in nature.
According to the UN findings, Pakistan’s position on the treaty is legally sound and fully aligned with international legal standards. The report emphasized that treaties governing shared water resources must be implemented in good faith and cannot be altered through unilateral political decisions.
The UN experts expressed serious concern over India’s announcement to suspend the treaty, stating that even the threat of interrupting water flows directly impacts basic human rights in Pakistan. These include the rights to water, food security, health, employment, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
The report categorically rejected the use of water as a political or economic weapon. It stated that India’s actions, taken outside the treaty’s agreed dispute-resolution mechanisms, are unlawful and infringe upon Pakistan’s rights. The experts also warned that interference in cross-border water arrangements undermines regional stability and weakens international norms.
Addressing India’s claims that linked the treaty suspension to alleged “cross-border terrorism,” the UN experts dismissed the argument as irrelevant to the treaty. They noted that India failed to provide credible or coherent evidence to support such allegations, making them legally unsustainable.
The experts urged India to immediately resume implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty in good faith and to refrain from actions that violate Pakistan’s legal and humanitarian rights.
The UN experts also sent a formal civil notice to the Indian government, challenging what they described as misleading claims. Through a five-point questionnaire, the experts sought evidence supporting India’s allegations against Pakistan and asked whether India would accept responsibility or compensation for any loss of life caused by the illegal use of force.
The notice also questioned India on measures taken to uphold the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir. India failed to respond within the mandatory 60-day period, after which the experts finalized and published their report.
Indus Water Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah clarified that the report was issued independently by UN experts and was not prepared or submitted by Pakistan.
“This report has emerged through international mechanisms and reflects factual realities. It is not Pakistan’s document,” Shah said, adding that India illegally suspended the treaty, which cannot be altered unilaterally under any circumstances.
He further revealed that the report was finalized in October, but India chose not to respond to it.
Highlighting serious treaty violations, Mehr Ali Shah stated that India is prohibited from altering the natural flow patterns of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. However, India allegedly changed water flows twice — once in May and again in December.
He explained that while water flow was initially maintained for 159 hours, it later dropped sharply to nearly 10 percent of normal levels. The average flow declined from 4,000–5,000 cusecs to as low as 870–1,000 cusecs, raising serious concerns for agriculture, livelihoods, and water security in Pakistan.
Pakistani officials have described the UN report as a major diplomatic and legal victory, saying it strengthens Pakistan’s international position and exposes India’s violations of the Indus Waters Treaty.
