At UN, Pakistan accuses India off ‘weaponizing water,’ calling it a threat to livelihoods, regional stability

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 20 (APP): Describing water as the lifeblood of its agrarian economy, Pakistan has told a special event at the United Nations (UN) that India’s unilateral suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty amounts to an assault on its civilization and long-term economic stability.

“We are an agrarian society, which practically exists at the nexus of water and agriculture,” Dr. Musadik Malik, Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, underscored in a video message to the high-level event commemorating the World Water Day.

The event, held at the UN Headquarters in New York under the theme of ‘Water and Gender Equality’, was organized by the Permanent Mission of Tajikistan to the UN and co-hosted by Pakistan among other countries. It coincided with the launch of the annual UN’s World Water Development Report.

Dr. Musadik Malik warned against politicizing water, taking note of the dark clouds of conflict gathering over the regions. “All of a sudden, given the geopolitics or the plates of geopolitics shifting, taking this opportunity to unilaterally and illegally putting (the) Treaty into abeyance, we believe that politicizing water is an attack on our civilization; It’s an attack on our livelihoods– It’s an attack on our economic growth.”

The minister hoped that better sense would prevail, as “to us, this is a water rights day and this is a women’s rights day.”

Dr. Musadik Malik’s sharp words drew a response from Indian Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish who, as expected, repeated his government’s stance of directly linking the Treaty’s suspension to Pakistan’s alleged failure to end cross-border terrorism. But a Pakistani delegate Aleena Majeed hit back, accusing India of weaponization of water for narrow political gains, jeopardizing the lifelines of millions.

In his video message, the minister also said amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, such an abrupt and unilateral move is not only unjustified and illegal but also undermines a longstanding framework of cooperation.

“For us, water is nature. Water is humanity. Water is our civilization. For us, water is agriculture. We are an agrarian society, which practically exists at the nexus of water and agriculture,” he said.

Approximately 25 to 30 percent of the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is linked to agriculture, while nearly half of its workforce depends on the sector for employment. Pakistan’s food security, he stressed, is entirely tied to agricultural productivity, making water management a matter of national survival and prosperity.

The minister pointed out that more than 61 percent of women’s employment is connected to agriculture, underscoring the direct relationship between water access, women’s empowerment, and economic well-being.

Dr. Malik also drew attention to the human and social costs of climate-induced disasters in Pakistan. He said that over the past four major floods, nearly 6,000 people have lost their lives, around 20,000 have been injured or disabled, and approximately 40 million people have been displaced. Among them were about 20 million school-going children. If displaced for even three months, he noted, this results in an estimated 1.8 billion lost school days.

He stressed that, as in many parts of the world, women remain among the most vulnerable during such crises. “When we fight for water rights, we are also fighting for women’s rights,” he remarked.

The minister highlighted Pakistan’s policy commitments, including the integration of gender inclusion and community participation in the country’s climate strategies.

He said that Pakistan’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC III) clearly outline the role of women in climate action and sustainable development. Emphasizing the importance of youth engagement, he said the government is advancing several initiatives under a broader “Green Revolution,” with water management forming a key pillar of these efforts.

Dr. Musadik Malik said Pakistan is promoting innovative ideas and business opportunities for young people, particularly in sectors related to agriculture, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. He said that efforts are also underway to mobilize financing for climate-related ventures, with a commitment to ensuring that at least 50 percent participation in these initiatives comes from women.

Additionally, he announced the development of a joint research framework focused on agriculture, water, and climate issues, which would be advanced through a new platform called the “Green Virtual University.”

Reacting to Dr. Malik’s comments about India’s efforts to deprive Pakistan of its share of waters, Harish, the Indian ambassador, accused Islamabad of violating the spirit of the Treaty by launching, without providing any evidence, cross-border terror attacks.

Exercising her right of right of reply, Aleena Majeed, a second secretary at the Pakistan Mission to the UN, challenged the Indian envoy’s logic, saying no provision of the Treaty permits unilateral suspension or modification or so-called “abeyance”.

“We recall that the Court of Arbitration has found in its supplemental award in 2025 that its competence remains intact,” she said, adding India must revert immediately to full and complete implementation of the Treaty.

Rejecting the India’s accusation of Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism, Ms. Majeed said, “India’s attempts to deflect attention through unfounded allegations of terrorism cannot conceal its record of sponsorship of terrorism across its borders, perpetration of state terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, global state-backed assassination campaign including in North America, and state patronage of violence against its minorities.

“There is credible evidence of India’s sponsorship of terrorist groups, including the TTP (Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan), Fitna Alkhwarij, and BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) , Fitna Hindustan, which have carried out attacks in Pakistan, resulting in loss of lives of thousands of Pakistanis,” the Pakistani delegate said.

“We reiterate our firm and unequivocal rejection of all attempts to weaponize water and to use it for political gains.”

APP/ift