India Blocks Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan Resorts to UN Tactics to Save Face

Islamabad/New Delhi: Following India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty last year, Pakistan has expressed mounting frustration and is now taking its grievances to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India had paused the treaty in April 2025 after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, marking a rare assertive move, as the treaty had remained intact even after three wars between the two countries.

Despite attempts by Islamabad to pressure New Delhi, India has maintained its stance. On 31 December, Pakistan’s UN Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmed argued that India’s unilateral suspension challenges the global order, portraying the move as a test of international norms. Analysts note that recent trade agreements between India, the European Union, and the United States have further signaled the global community’s support for India’s position.

Pakistan is seeking to involve third parties in the treaty, but India has consistently rejected external mediation. Experts emphasize that the Indus Water Treaty was designed as a bilateral framework, and any internationalization undermines its original intent.

While Pakistan projects the suspension as a threat to international law, India sees it as a measure to restore balance in water management. Routine operations such as hydrological data sharing and mediation processes have been temporarily suspended, but the treaty itself has not been terminated. Analysts stress that India must highlight that the dispute is not about the treaty’s existence, but about how it is being implemented and misused.